TROWBRIDGE high jumper Tom Gale is celebrating after learning he is heading to Poland for the World Junior Championships.

The John of Gaunt student, 17, met the qualification criteria when he jumped 2.17m at the U20 British Championships last month in Bedford but it was still an agonising wait to learn of his selection.

Gale was named in the second wave of selections for the worlds in Bydgoszcz but before that, he has the small matter of the English Schools’ Track & Field Championships in Gateshead which starts today, for which he been named along with Jaymee Domoney as joint team captain for the boys’ squad,with Zoe Mattacks, also of John of Gaunt, selected as girls’ captain.

Gale said of his Great Britain call: “It is absolutely brilliant. This is my first year and I have ended in an international tournament.

“Right now, I am really proud of what I have achieved and massively looking forward to it. It is a really strong team and we have all worked really hard to get there so we should do well there.

“I have the English Schools Championship so I am competing in that, but then it is a case of getting a week of good work in before Sunday.”

An impressive season has seen Gale break his personal best several times, finish runner-up in the England U20 Championships, ninth in the Olympic trials and earn his first international championship vest.

He said: “I’m not expecting a top-three finish because I have been so consistent this year but I am really looking forward to a good competition and to just keep going.

“I think there is a lot more to come from me this year and even more next year.”

At the 2015 English Schools’ Track & Field Championships, Gale finished eighth with 1.97m in the inter boys’ high jump, which was his debut in the event.

“Twelve months ago, I would have never expected the things I have done so it has been really strange,” added Gale.

“Six months ago, my coach told me that there was a possibility I could make the World Juniors and I was making jokes about it.

“But he (Dennis Doyle, who is based in Cardiff) saw something there which I couldn’t see and here I am.”

Gale’s interest in high jump was somewhat forced upon him as he only agreed to take part in a competition to help out his school.

He said: “My first competition was in Year Seven, but my first official competition was three years ago in Year Nine. I didn’t really expect anything but I actually came away with a win.

“If you had told me that this would happen six months ago I wouldn’t have believed you and I would have been surprised it’s all happened very quickly.

“I plan to celebrate by winning the English Schools, but to be honest with you, I think I’ll treat myself to a Chinese.”

Among those joining Gale in the team are the Howorth brothers from Hilperton. Twins Robert and John and younger brother Rory, who are all student at St Augustine’s Catholic College, have all been selected.

Wiltshire squad

Junior boys: Femi Akinbobola, Ransford Ako-Nai, Kieron Appleton, Will Browne, Harry Clarke, Rory Howorth, Luke Leadbeater, William Scammell, Ethan Stock, Dan Taylor.

Intermediate boys: Ulas Akkus, Jake Burkey , Joseph Collins, John Howorth, Robert Howorth, Sam Roberts, Nick Rusinov.

Senior boys: Jaymee Domoney, Tom Gale, Will Kennedy, Olly Shad, Callum Short.

Junior girls: Susannah Hirst, Molly Hole, Katie Loach, Anna Merritt.

Intermediate girls: Skye Allen, Emily Arrell, Zoe-Ann Bishop, Jenna Blundell , Imogen Dawe-Lane, Georgina Henry, Ottilie Knight, Jade Littlechild, Caitlin Wosika.

Senior girls: Beatrice Fordham, Zoe Mattacks, Abby Miles.