Students break jump records at Sheldon School (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Students break jump records at Sheldon School

Two athletes at Sheldon School, Chippenham, have set new sports records.

Sheldon School student Deane Williams has broken the school record for the high jump

Jake Burkey broke the Year 7 record for the long jump, while Deane Williams smashed a high jump record set more than 30 years ago.

Year 10 student Deane broke a record set in 1981 by Andrew James.

Head of PE Adam Douglas said it was all the more surprising as Deane doesn’t specialise in the high jump.

“Deane broke a very long-standing record, and one of our oldest,” said Mr Douglas.

“The record was 1.70m, and Deane jumped an impressive 1.73m. He’s a tall boy and a gifted sportsman, but his chosen sport would be basketball – he plays for Swindon.”

Mr Douglas said he was proud of both boys.

“They did fantastically, and we’re really pleased about it,” he said.

“Jake jumped 4.79m in the long jump – that’s pretty great.

"The previous record was set by Harry Cook last year, and it was 4.45m.

"Jake is the county long jump and hurdles champion for his age group, so he’s doing brilliantly and we expect to see him go far.”

Some of the oldest records set at the school have yet to be broken, including a girls’ 4 x 100m relay at 61.0 seconds set in 1976, and a boys’ 200m race at 28.0 seconds set in the same year.

The girls’ javeline record, 17m 75, has not been broken since 1984, and the girls’ 70m hurdles peaked in 1980 at 12.7 seconds.