Devizes Scool pupil Hutchinson scoops World Cup gold (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Devizes Scool pupil Hutchinson scoops World Cup gold

9:39am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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Athletics: Devizes School athletics starlet Joe Hutchinson helped England to gold at the weekend with a stunning second-place finish in a previously untried event.

The 16-year-old, from Bowerhill, was competing in the World Schools Cup event in Estonia and earned silver in the 110 metre hurdles and bronze in the shot put.

Those points helped England’s men to take first place in the team event and Hutchinson says he learnt a lot from the whole process.

“It was a really good experience and I got a medal,” he beamed.

“I ran 14.24 seconds in the hurdles and was pleased with how I performed, especially considering I’d only had five training sessions before going.

“The World Youth Championships qualifying standard is 13.90 secs and I think it’s an event I will focus on, especially next year.

“Multi-eventing includes the 110m hurdles and now I know I can do it on a world level it has given me confidence.”

In the shot putt Hutchinson suffered in the unsuitable weath er conditions and threw 13.84m, some way short of his personal best.

“There was a shot putter from Iran, whose PB is near 20m, and he threw less than 18m which shows how tough it was.

“It averaged 26 degrees heat for the whole weekend but rained for two hours when I was throwing. I had to throw in trainers which is harder as you have less grip and are conscious of slipping over when gliding across the circle.

“My PB is 14.74 and to get so close to it in such dire conditions was quite good.”

Hutchinson returns to training today after landing back in England on Tuesday night and will compete at the English Schools Champion-ships next Friday in Sheffield.

“You can only do the one event there which is a bit of a luxury,” he joked.

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