HUDDERSFIELD’s Abigail Haywood has won a bronze medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games in India.
The 17-year-old from Newsome, who competes for Sale Harriers, was third in the women’s pole vault at the Games being held in Pune.
Abigail – a student at Greenhead College – cleared 3.80m to finish behind England roommate Jade Ive (Sutton and District), who took gold in a Games record 4.05m, and Canadian Ariane Beaumont Courteau (3.90m).
It was a very close final and, having failed to clear 3.90m, Abigail moved the bar up to 4.00m to try and put pressure on the two leaders (who cleared at the first and second attempts respectively).
She made two terrific efforts before having to settle for the bronze, which completes a terrific year for the Home Countries Under 23 international winner, who has a personal best of 3.91m and had set a target of raising that to 4.00m in India.
Fourth in the Under 20 national championships and second in the English Schools at Gateshead, when she was hampered by cramp, Abigail already has Yorkshire and North of England titles to her name.
Before returning home on Sunday, she will spend the rest of her time in Pune supporting the other England team members, who include Borough of Kirklees Swimmer Katy Venters.
Katy, from Salendine Nook and also a student at Greenhead, finished sixth in the final of the 100m backstroke but was back in action today in the heats of the 200m.
England’s Olympic and Paralympic teams were being honoured in a London parade today.
