JESS HIRST has her eyes on success at next month’s National Indoor Athletics Championships after taking shot putt gold at the Northerns.
The Under 15 from Slaithwaite, who attends Colne Valley Arts College and competes for Halifax Harriers, led from start to finish in a high-quality competition at Sheffield.
Hirst entered the competition at the English Institute of Sport as favourite and her opening throw was an impressive 9.16m.
She increased her distance to 9.68m in the second round and this stayed the winning throw until the end of the event.
Second was Anna Nicole Rowe of Liverpool Harriers with a throw of 9.41m and third, Kara Wilson, of Doncaster Athletics Club, with 8.98m.
Hirst’s training partner Megan Ascough finished an encouraging sixth with a throw of 8.27m in her first Under 15 competition.
The nationals are in Birmingham on February 23.
