Gold medallist Lucy breaks isles high jump record

Lucy Holden (centre) shows off her gold medal.

High jumper Lucy Holden, 13, broke the Shetland senior record at the weekend while winning a gold medal at the Scottish National Age Group Championships.

She was among 15 athletes representing Shetland Amateur Athletics Club who travelled to Aberdeen Sports Village for the event.

Apart with Lucy’s gold, Sophie Moar won silver in the long jump and gold in the triple jump while Dan Swanson picked up a bronze in the shot putt.

Lucy came into the competition with a PB of 1.45 and was ranked about middle of the pack in the start lists. She cleared her first two heights of 1.36 and 1.41 first time and then with another first-time clearance set a new PB of 1.46. She also cleared the next height of 1.51 with her first attempt.

The Shetland senior women’s record of 1.55 metres, jointly held by Anna Carruthers, Julie Ramsay, Gayle Henry and Sophie Moar, was now under threat from this 13-year-old. She was totally unaware of what she was about to achieve and sailed over 1.56 to break the record.

In the competition Lucy was now assured of at least the silver medal. She failed 1.58 with her first attempt and Kate Mackay from Aberdeen went into the lead with a first time clearance.

Lucy composed herself and cleared 1.58 on the second attempt. She also cleared 1.60 with her first jump and this was good enough to win the gold medal as Kate failed all three attempts at 1.60.

This remarkable achievement means Lucy is number one for her age group in Scotland and she also has one more year in this age group in 2015.

Unfortunately Lucy she will be too young to compete in Jersey at next year’s island games.

• For full report see The Shetland Times on Friday.