Athletics Jess surprises herself with javelin win at English Schools’ event
WHITCHURCH teenager Jess Lewis produced a stunning performance to win a gold medal at the New Balance English Schools’ Track and Field Championships. The 14-year-old Oasis Academy John Williams School student produced a shock victory in the junior girls’ javelin, not only smashing her personal best but also breaking the championship record. “I really did not expect to come anywhere near the podium at all,” said Lewis. “I was just hoping I could throw a personal best and maybe reach 40 metres (her previous best was 38.88m set when finishing runnerup in the South West Schools’ Championships the previous month) and maybe get into the top five, which is what I was ranked nationally before. “My opening throw was 38.21m and after that I knew I could throw 40 metres, but then I had some no throws until I got 43.30 in the fifth and penultimate round to take the lead. “I was just so shocked with that throw. It does not feel real and hasn’t sunk in even now.” Lewis clearly has plenty of talent and a champion’s temperament to go with the dedication needed to succeed in the sport, especially when one considers she suffers from type 1 diabetes so has to keep a very close eye on her sugar levels at all times. “Sometimes Jess struggles to control her sugar levels in training and in competitions so we have to be very careful,” said Paul Filer, who is her coach at Bristol & West AC. “But she works hard, is very determined and has this ability to perform on the big stage. She gets nervous but inside can control herself and never lets the occasion affect her. I could not be more proud of her.” Lewis wasn’t the only Avon medallist at the two-day event staged at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham. Luke Ball, a student at Castle School, Thornbury, equalled his personal best of 1.84m to win the bronze medal in the junior boys’ high jump. Ball, who is coached by Jeremy Dale at Yate & District AC, was representing Avon in the event for the first time. Another Yate & District club athlete to make the podium – albeit in the colours of Wiltshire where he goes to school – was Owen Merrett. The 14-year-old is coached by former national champion Matt Spicer at Yate and he won a deserved bronze in the junior boys’ hammer after a nerve-wracking finish in which he was displaced for the silver and then had to watch three other throwers challenge his best. “I turned away as I couldn’t bare to look,” said Merrett. Avon’s third medal of the championships came from Bath’s junior international middle-distance runner Anna Burt with third place in the senior girls’ 800m on her farewell appearance in the championships. There were also fine fifth places for sprinters Daniel Brooks in the senior boys’ 100m and Tia Jackson in the senior girls’ 100m. But South Gloucestershire & Stroud College student Jenna Blundell missed out on a bronze in the senior girls’ 100m hurdles by just 0.02secs. “Initially it felt annoying, but in the grand scheme of things I am feeling very positive about the future after all my injuries and I’ll be back again next year,” said Blundell. In the inter boys’ hammer, Toby Conibear finished a creditable seventh, and there was also a seventh place for Hannah Hobbs in the senior 3000m on her farewell appear- ance in the championships. New Balance English Schools’ Championships, Alexander Stadium (all Avon athletes): Senior boys 100 (-2.0w); 5 Daniel Brooks 11.07; 3000: 11 Max Davis 8:52.85; HJ: 11th= Jack Moore 1.87. Hammer: 7 Toby Conibear 57.22. HJ: 3 Luke Ball 1.84; Discus: 14 Josh Schrijver 33.73. 800: 3 Anna Burt 2:08.90; 3000: 7 Hannah Hobbs 9:53.57; 100H: 4 Jenna Blundell 14.56; 1500S/C: 7 Caitlin Wosika 5:10.54; HJ: 12 Renee Jelf 1.63; TJ: 11 Emma Bakare 11.10. 100: 5 Tia Jackson 12.35; 1500S/C: 9 Enya Maylor 5:19.82. javelin: 1 Jess Lewis 43.30 Inter boys: Junior boys: Senior girls: Inter girls: Junior girls: (CBP).