TRAINING partners and friends, Molly Caudery (Redruth School) and Rebecca Gray (Camborne School), claimed a “one-two” in the pole vault at the British Schools’ Championships in Grangemouth, Scotland, at the weekend, writes Kevin Fahey.
The pair, who were representing England after their success at the England Schools’ Championships, are coached by Molly’s dad
Stuart and are both members of Cornwall AC.
They finished tied on 3m75c, but Molly, from Illogan, got the verdict on countback.
Rebecca, whose clearance was a personal best, said: “Molly cleared 3m75c first time and I did it on my third attempt,
“I am really happy to jump a personal best and it has been a brilliant week after my silver medal at the English Schools.”
Rebecca shook off a nasty fall when warming up for the event to produce her best performance of the season, but Molly, who was making her England debut, just proved to have the edge again.
“We are great friends and the whole experience of competing for England was so much better because we were both involved,” added Rebecca, who lives in Redruth.
Amazingly, the training partners are now first and second in the UK U17 Rankings.
Another Cornish athlete Molly Long has admitted her first taste of international athletics has really whetted her appetite for further success in the future.
The 18-year-old finished fourth in the final of the women’s 800m at the European Under 20 Championships in Sweden on Saturday evening.
While there was a sense of frustration at just missing out on the medals Long was looking at the positives from her first experience of competing at a major championships.
“It was a bit annoying that I did not hang onto the top three girls because I got isolated in fourth and if I had got closer then the result may have been different but I went into the event ranked fourth fastest and that is where I finished,” said Long.
“It was just a massive experience for me and I have learned so much.”
“Being at an event like that was quite overwhelming even without the racing. The girls who won the medals had all done these events before and had that experience. That is what I need more of now because it counts for such a lot.
“Hopefully I can get more of it in the future and get used to racing at that level.”
Without doubt Long and her coach John Knowles can reflect on a tremendous season which has seen her win the British U20 title, improve her personal best to 2:03.32 to go top of the UK U20 Rankings and earn her debut for Great Britain for her first international championships.
“I am so happy with the way this season has gone,” added Long.
FROM: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Training-partners-dominate-British-Schools/story-27470880-detail/story.html
