PEEBLES athlete Louis Whyte has achieved a lifetime best in long jump while representing Scotland.
The 16-year-old was making his first appearance for his country in an international in the U20 age group at Cardiff on Saturday.
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The youngster competed in the long jump and triple jump at the event – and he produced the goods when it mattered.
His personal best in the long jump saw him hit 7.09m to take silver against older athletes.
And a few hours later he won bronze in the triple jump.
He then headed straight to Birmingham for the UK Championships, this time at his own age group, under 17.
Under his coach’s instructions, it was an ice bath and a sleep between the back-to-back days.
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And once again he excelled. Sitting in fifth place until the final round, Whyte then produced yet another 7m-plus long jump to snatch the silver.
Coach Linda Nicholson said: “Louis is ranked top in Scotland for both long jump and triple jump at under-17 age group and also under-20 age group.
“A former top rugby player, he turned to sprint training with me, then onto jumps only a year ago.
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“We have worked hard to turn his rugby bulk strength into explosive power and controlled technical movement for jumping.
“Louis is tremendous to work with. He is very determined, and very competitive, and has risen to challenge after challenge, now one of the top young jumpers in the UK.
“He has won a total of 23 championship medals since he started to train regularly just over a year ago.”
Nicholson now has 14 athletes under her guidance including Scottish under-17 outdoor triple jump record holder Ellie O'Hara, currently on a scholarship to Harvard, and current Scottish senior triple jump champion Henry Clarkson.
Athletes come to train with her from as far afield as Glasgow, Dunblane, Langholm and East Lothian.
At the recent senior and age group Scottish National Championships, the group achieved six gold medals, four silvers and four bronzes, and are heading Scottish age group rankings in six events.
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