byLarry Eder
There is never a chance to stand still in the world of athletics not least as an athlete; one week’s light training can result in a late peak and a short advantage to a rival. Have a year out injured and a younger opponent, who had you had seemed light years ahead of will almost certainly catch up.
Such is this also indicative of the current trend within British track and field that after day one of the UK indoors 9 athletes aged 20 or younger have already medalled and look set to gain a place at next month’s European championships.
Blink and you’re at serious risk of missing the emergence of one young athlete who by the time you open your eyes will be an old hat, with a younger slightly more impressive record breaking model having stepped into the limelight in front of them.
Cue the women’s heptathlon; an event which seems to operate on a constant spinning cycle that produces world class potential and talent every 3 or 4 years, may well be about to hit it’s boiling point as the margins between the UK’s three best athletes narrows by the week, with just 18 months to go until the 2016 Olympic Games. As Jessica Ennis-Hill continues to build towards a return to the sport in May, her two compatriots who have flown the multi-eventing flag so well in her absence continue to improve. While Katarina Johnson-Thompson (KJT) is undoubtedly the women of the moment after her new national record high jump of 1.97m this afternoon as well as her world leading performance in 2014, double world junior champion Morgan Lake’s ascend is equally as impressive and after securing the British junior record height of 1.94m in the same completion she has plenty of reasons to be confident.
Having been left with mixed emotions from last year after after a world indoor silver in the long jump and a brilliant performance in Gotzis in which she became world number one, posting 6,682 points, the highest total since the 2012 Olympic Games, was followed by a stress fracture disaster that made her unable to compete in both the Commonwealth Games or European Championships, the KJT seems to be back on track. One of those proverbial old hats, that I mentioned, the 22 year-old has taken on the mantle of the elder statesman within the realms of her individual and multi-events. With her performances showing a maturity to match. In her latest battle in the jumps she showed her patience to recover from a number of first time failures to not only got the better of Lake and retain her title, but the British record to suit. Although you’d hardly have known it as she gave a small smile and waved to the crowd, having failed at her three attempts to clear 2 metres.
Afterwards she said: “I’m glad to jump a PB [personal best] but I can’t believe I’m a little disappointed with a 1.97m,” A sentiment that not only indicates her ambition but shows her drive to improve.
Given that no other person from her country had ever even attempted the height before today, a sense of perspective and more expansive celebration will surely be in order on Monday, not least if she can also win the long jump for the second year running tomorrow.
Nonetheless it will still only count as a stepping stone, as she sets her sight on gaining her first senior multi-eventing medal in the Prague before a drive to make the 2015 outdoor season a perfect dress rehearsal for the big event a year later. There is a good chance that Lake will also lineup in the Czech Republic and more significantly in the journey to Rio. Better not take the brakes off KJT.
