Gladiator Boggis is delighted to be back on track

9:53am Thursday 31st July 2008

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Athletics: Relieved Lucy Boggis says she is delighted to be back in competitive athletics action after an injury-ravaged 14 months away.

The 19-year-old from Lower Stanton St Quintin set a new personal best as she won the javelin with a throw of 41.58 metres at the National Junior League meet in Eaton, near Winsor, on Sunday.

She then equalled her personal best in the high jump with a leap of 1.70m and finished up throwing 11.14m in the shot, to finish second in both U20 events.

Boggis, who is Tempest in Sky One's Gladiators, has been struggling with injuries for a year and sat out the track events in Sunday's heptathlon but is just elated to be back.

"It feels so good," said the Shaftsbury and Barnet Harriers athlete. "You are training and training and training but you never know whether the training is benefiting you.

"You could go to a competition and be the worst there.

"It gives me that bit more confidence because I know where I am compared to the other competitors.

"By going out there I've put myself in the rankings and I have made my stand. People know I am back and I am more confident."

A knee complaint meant she only competed in the field events but there was still a little running to do.

"The javelin and the high jump were going on at the same time so I was having to run to the other end of the field, jump, and then go back," she said.

But it is her recovery from injury which has pleased her.

She said: "I have not thrown like that since I was about 14 years old. I had a stress fracture in my back and never really got over it but suddenly I've had a break through.

"I've had an ankle injury for three years which meant I could not physically jump off the floor and I never thought I would be able to jump again."