A POLE vaulter from Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School has enjoyed a sporting year to remember.

Ailis McGovern, 15, was part of a successful Kent schools athletics team, who travelled to Gateshead Stadium last month to represent their schools and county at the Aviva English schools athletics championships.

The Bexley AC member competed against the 16 of the country’s top pole vaulters and after a very close and nerve racking competition she won gold after clearing 3.50m on her first attempt, matching her personal best.

Second place went to fellow Kent athlete Ellie Gooding.

Both athletes were automatically invited to the Aviva schools international, where they were entitled to wear an England vest for the first time. Both cleared 3.50m on their first attempt with one failure at a previous height, resulting in a tie for first place.

McGovern, who is coached by Bexley AC’s Gordon Lillis, also won the indoor nationals earlier in the season .

She said: “I am regularly vaulting higher heights in training, so I need to translate this to when I am competing.

“I am getting on to bigger poles gradually and know a big height is due soon.

“It’s a matter of everything going right together all at once.”

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