A PUPIL at Rayleigh’s FitzWimarc School has been rated the number one athlete in his age group in the country.
Year nine student Jack Longhurst was given the ranking by the English Schools Athletics Association.
He was a member of the school’s Junior Boys team at the English Schools Athletics Championships, which came first in the competition last month.
He won the gold medal in the competition’s pole vault event.
Head of Boys’ PE at the school in Hockley Road, Nick Cowley, said: “Jack is an outstanding all round sportsman. He can compete at an excellent level in a variety of events.
“He started pole vault in year seven and has shown a huge progress. This is because he has attended so many practices and shown a terrific level of commitment.”
Speaking about his success, Jack said: “I have set lots of targets for myself since starting the pole vault and, fortunately, reached them.
“I have just joined Chelmsford Athletics Club so there will be bigger targets for me in the coming year.”
He also thanked his teachers and mentors, saying: “Thank you to the Boys’ PE department for all their help and support and a very big thank you to Kevin Hughes who comes into school to help train me every week.
“Thanks also to [ex-pupil] Liam Yarwood who has also helped coach me.”
from: http://www.yellowad.co.uk/news.cfm?id=25418&headline=Number%20one%20UK%20ranking%20for%20young%20athlete
