A BORDERS-BASED jumps group has launched into 2013 in perfect style, with three athletes breaking records at the new Emirates Indoor Arena in Glasgow.
Freddie Rooke, Faye Nicholson and Henry Clarkson all train at Tweedbank with coach Linda Nicholson, and their early showings suggest 2013 could be a big year for the trio.
Most impressive was 13-year-old Berwickshire High School pupil Rooke in the indoor league, who produced a huge leap of 6.14m in the long jump to smash the previous record set in 1996, taking him top of the UK age group rankings by 24cm.
He also ran 7.39 seconds in the 60m to break the existing record.
Representing Edinburgh University, Nicholson, 19, from Peebles, broke the Scottish University and College Championships’ previous triple jump record with a distance of 11.09, although she was eventually overtaken by Sarah Warnock of Queen Margaret University.
Nicholson also claimed silver in the long jump with 5.56m, again behind Warnock.
All-round jumper Henry Clarkson, a 13-year-old pupil at Selkirk High School, broke the indoor league triple jump record with 10.94m and then set a new competition personal best of 1.55m in the high jump to come joint winner of his pool at the National Open.
Linda Nicholson she was delighted with her athletes’ showings. She told TheSouthern: “These youngsters work really hard, travelling long distances to train together, so I’m thrilled that even in the middle of winter they are already seeing rewards for their efforts.
“It all looks very promising for the outdoor season to come.”