Luke Cutts rising fast (UK)
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:11 pm
http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/sp ... 5481823.jp
Cutts' silver medal glory at Euros
Published Date: 22 July 2009
THURNSCOE pole vaulter Luke Cutts narrowly missed out on gold at the European Under-23 Athletics Championship in Lithuania.
The Dearneside High AC vaulter landed silver in the event in Kaunas after clearing 5.60m, a new personal best in outdoor competition. Only a fractional error by the width of his fingertips would deny Cutts victory at 5.70m which would have seen off G
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erman winner Raphael Holzdeppe who bested 5.65m.
Cutts came through Friday's qualifying with relative ease after an initial wobble when the failed with his first attempt at 5.10m. After clearing that height, the 21-year-old went on to best 5.20m and 5.30m with successful first attempt jumps. He could not beat 5.40m but his achievement proved enough to take him into the top 12 of the 22 athletes representing the rest of Europe.
Cutts began the final on Sunday well, having no problems with his first leap over 5.15m, beating his qualifying height at the second attempt before his initial try at 5.40m also proved successful. Second chance clearances at 5.50m and 5.55m guaranteed him a top four spot.
His last shot at 5.60m saw him clear the height and leapfrog Greece's Dimitrios Patsoukakis into second place while Holzdeppe beat 5.65m on his first attempt, pushing Cutts straight up to chancing 5.70m after a failed try at equalling the German's efforts.
Cutts came within millimetres of achieving 5.70m, the qualifying height for last year's Olympics in Beijing.
Dearneside coach Trevor Fox said British number one Steve Lewis will have to up his game to keep Cutts at bay. "Luke is showing his pole vault maturity in style now," he said. "Steve Lewis will have to get out of the habit of being selected just because he's there on top of the rankings list.
"He's going to have to work harder to stay there and that'd be good for both of them but I don't think he has anywhere else to go. He's at maximum with his training and certainly got everything in facilities, apparatus, UKA back-up.
"I know six major extra stages stages Luke can take and we'll be introducing them when he gets home."
Cutts saw off Lewis a week prior to land gold at the World Trials and Aviva UK Championships.
Cutts' silver medal glory at Euros
Published Date: 22 July 2009
THURNSCOE pole vaulter Luke Cutts narrowly missed out on gold at the European Under-23 Athletics Championship in Lithuania.
The Dearneside High AC vaulter landed silver in the event in Kaunas after clearing 5.60m, a new personal best in outdoor competition. Only a fractional error by the width of his fingertips would deny Cutts victory at 5.70m which would have seen off G
ADVERTISEMENT
erman winner Raphael Holzdeppe who bested 5.65m.
Cutts came through Friday's qualifying with relative ease after an initial wobble when the failed with his first attempt at 5.10m. After clearing that height, the 21-year-old went on to best 5.20m and 5.30m with successful first attempt jumps. He could not beat 5.40m but his achievement proved enough to take him into the top 12 of the 22 athletes representing the rest of Europe.
Cutts began the final on Sunday well, having no problems with his first leap over 5.15m, beating his qualifying height at the second attempt before his initial try at 5.40m also proved successful. Second chance clearances at 5.50m and 5.55m guaranteed him a top four spot.
His last shot at 5.60m saw him clear the height and leapfrog Greece's Dimitrios Patsoukakis into second place while Holzdeppe beat 5.65m on his first attempt, pushing Cutts straight up to chancing 5.70m after a failed try at equalling the German's efforts.
Cutts came within millimetres of achieving 5.70m, the qualifying height for last year's Olympics in Beijing.
Dearneside coach Trevor Fox said British number one Steve Lewis will have to up his game to keep Cutts at bay. "Luke is showing his pole vault maturity in style now," he said. "Steve Lewis will have to get out of the habit of being selected just because he's there on top of the rankings list.
"He's going to have to work harder to stay there and that'd be good for both of them but I don't think he has anywhere else to go. He's at maximum with his training and certainly got everything in facilities, apparatus, UKA back-up.
"I know six major extra stages stages Luke can take and we'll be introducing them when he gets home."
Cutts saw off Lewis a week prior to land gold at the World Trials and Aviva UK Championships.