Ben gears up to reach new heights this summer

11 May 2001
PR 01/32

World Student Champion & British Number One Makes Summer Debut in Front Of Campus Colleagues At Loughborough

Britain's number one high jumper - and self confessed motor cycling fanatic - BEN CHALLENGER returned to his alma mater today to discus his prospects for 2001 ahead of the traditional curtain raiser to the athletics summer - the Aqua-Pura International at Loughborough University on Sunday 20th May.

LOUGHBOROUGH PARTY

"It's great to be back," said the hugely talented 23-year-old as he prepares to return to competitive action on his home track at the first televised meeting of the summer. "Loughborough is unique. There's a real party atmosphere and I love the chance to compete in front of my student mates. I just hope I can use the occasion to launch my season - and give me the confidence to go on to greater things later in the year."

Challenger ended 2000 as British number one, but by his own admission he had a disappointing year - failing to reach the standards he set in 1999 when he won the world student title with a personal best clearance of 2.30m.

"I had a poor season last year," said the former Loughborough student, widely tipped to continue the tradition of world class British high jumpers set by former Olympic bronze medallist Steve Smith and Commonwealth Champion Dalton Grant. "But I've been working hard with my new coach Steve Rippon and am confident I will be back competing for major honours this summer."

The charismatic Belgrave Harrier will have to hit top form immediately if he is to satisfy his army of fans at Loughborough - where he will face stiff competition from emerging Welsh youngster ROB MITCHELL. The-20-year old AAA U23 Champion recently equaled the Welsh record with a clearance of 2.24m in Spain (higher than Challenger jumped all last year) and looks set to rival his status as British number one.

THE CARL FOGARTY OF BRITISH ATHLETICS

Challenger will also hope his penchant for racing motorbikes will provide him with the escape valve he feels he needs, if he is going to return to his best this summer. "You definitely need another outlet," said the highly tuned athlete, who puts the fear of God in fans of British athletics by touring British race circuits in his Ducati 916 - the same model that Carl Fogarty used to win the World Superbike Championship! "In fact racing a bike flat out is a bit like the high jump," he claimed. "You can't afford to get carried away. You must stay focused on what you are doing and keep in control," he added comfortingly.

LOUGHBOROUGH TEAM CHALLENGE

Britain's top 400m hurdler CHRIS RAWLINSON will also make his 2001 debut in Loughborough colours at the Aqua-Pura International. It's a big year for the self titled 'Rotherham Rocket' as he bids to regain the world number one spot and make up for his Olympic disappointment by fulfiling his medal winning potential at the World Championships in Edmonton.

Former Loughborough favourite Commonwealth long jump champion JO WISE has confirmed she will also start her world championship campaign at Loughborough as Britain's number one long jumper seeks to overcome the injury problems that have restricted her since that Commonwealth triumph.

The Loughborough Team will once again be led by former world junior discus silver medallist EMEKA UDECHUKU who, like team-mate former world junior javelin champion DAVID PARKER, stands on the verge of making his senior international breakthrough.

Parker, the 20-year-old Maths student tipped as the next Steve Backley of British javelin throwing, has started the season in fine form, having already set a new personal best of 78.33m. Can he break the magical 80m barrier on his home territory at Loughborough?

Most of the Loughborough squad spent the Easter break training together at their warm weather base in Val de Lobo in Portugal having already confirmed their reputation as the outstanding University for student athletics this winter after the men and women teams won both the British University Cross Country Championships and British University Indoor Championships.

Both teams enter this weekend's British University Outdoor Championships as hot favourites as they prepare for the biggest test of all on May 20th.

"It's the biggest challenge of the year," said George Gandy, Director of Athletics. "The meeting provides our athletes with a unique chance to take on some of the biggest stars of the sport in front of their student colleagues whilst also giving them an excellent opportunity to start making a name for themselves on TV."

They'll need to be on top form with a host of Britain's top athletes, including Olympic stars DARREN CAMPBELL and CHRISTIAN MALCOLM, already making themselves available for selection for the
first big examination of the athletics summer.

This year's Aqua-Pura International features teams from England, Wales, Scotland, GB Students, Loughborough University & GB Juniors.

TICKETS are available on the 24 Hour Ticketmaster Hotline: 0870 444 444 0 or in person from the Loughborough Students Union.

For further information contact Jon Ridgeon or Nic Watson from the Media Dept at Fast Track
Tel: 020 7245 0206 Fax: 020 7245 0203 Mobiles: 07798 927001, 07771 868732

Note to editors

Loughborough is an established university, with an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research, and for unrivalled sporting achievement. An average teaching quality score of 22.7 out of 24 places Loughborough first equal with Cambridge in the UK. Industry highlights Loughborough in their top five for graduate recruitment. In Research, more than 70% of staff were assessed in grades 4 and above. The University has been awarded three Queen's Anniversary Prizes - for its collaboration with industries such as BAE Systems, Ford and Rolls Royce; for its work in developing countries; and for its pioneering role in developing applications of modern optics and laser technologies.

[

Home] | Publicity Office