NEWS IN DETAIL...
A taste of Olympic stardom for student!
A university student at Cornwall College St Austell has won bronze in front of thousands of people at the Olympic Stadium in London in the British Universities and Colleges Sport Visa Outdoor Athletics Championships.
Jay Hill, 20, from St Austell, who is currently studying in his final year of a foundation degree in Sports Development & Coaching at the St Austell campus, represented Plymouth University in the hammer event. During the competition, where the qualifying heats were held on Friday 4th May and finals on Saturday 5th May, hundreds of students took part in various athletics events including the hammer, 100m, high jump, relay races and many others.
With six years’ experience in throwing the hammer, Jay was scouted four years ago by Enfield and Haringey Athletics Club. He explains why he started the sport: “I used to run a lot and compete in competitions but I injured my knee so I had to try something that wouldn’t impact it as much. I tried different throwing sports like javelin and discus as well but my throw was best suited to the hammer. I train nearly every day and have competed professionally now for many years, I have also represented Great Britain as a junior; I am focusing on the 2016 Olympics now as my personal goal.”
Competing in the hammer event were 24 students, in two pools of 12, from across the country and Jay got through to the final of 12 by throwing the longest distance in his pool. After a nail biting final with the top eight throwing very close distances, Jay came third and received a bronze medal, which he, his father and the College are very proud of.
Jay commented: “I am really happy with bronze because I threw my personal best of 57.95, the others who came second and first also threw personal bests as well! I was first to throw so I was a little nervous but had psyched myself up. It was quite weird to compete in such a large stadium, it felt like I was watching it on TV.”
Jay also competed in Saturday's Brooks Cornwall Track and Field Championships, held at Carn Brea Leisure Centre. He again smashed his personal best with a throw of 58.10 and won his event.
Dave Linnell, Principal of Cornwall College, said: “We are very supportive of our students’ extracurricular activities which lead to achievements outside of college. Jay is a great example of how a student can commit to their education and interests outside of college. I applaud his determination to succeed and wish him all the best with his future dream of getting to the next Olympics, we’ll be watching with great interest.”
All undergraduate courses at Cornwall College are awarded by Plymouth University. At Cornwall College St Austell seven new higher education courses have been added to the offering, including a foundation degree Public Services with Adventurous Activity Leadership. For more information please contact please call 0845 22 32 567, visit www.cornwall.ac.uk or come along to our higher education open event on 15th June, 10.30am–4pm, book your place by email charlotte.harvey1@cornwall.ac.uk or call 0845 22 32 567. Please include details of any subjects you wish to have a taster session in.
