Luke Cutts loose for 2012 (UK)

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http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/sp ... 5589592.jp

Luke Cutts loose for 2012

Set for Olympic glory: Luke Cutts


Published Date: 26 August 2009
LUKE Cutts' World Championship dreams came to an end in the pole vault qualifier in Berlin last week.
But the Dearne prodigy is already plotting his NEXT assault – on the 2012 Olympics!

In his first major senior final, Cutts was never realistically expected to reach the final, and he was disappointed not to improve on his on his 5.60m personal best, set at the recent European under-23
Championships in Lithuania.

But after making 5.4m, three failures at 5.5m left him in 13th place of the 17 qualifiers, he was upbeat about the German experience, saying: "It's disappointing not to progress but I'll be there in 2012 - I'll be ready for it."

"It's been a great experience, jumping with some of the best in the world.

"Back in England there aren't so many good vaulters around - but this week has taught me a lot.

"I need to train a bit more and I'll have a better idea of what to expect next time."

"It's a great atmosphere. The Germans get all the crowd behind them when you're competing against them.

Dearnside pole vaulter Cutts was the joint youngest in the field, alongside Russian Pavel Prokopenko.

He has been a strong challenger,having produced superb performances this year, including victory in the World Trials event. When he won that, the Thurnscoe athlete took three major steps forward in his progression towards London 2012 during the Crystal Palace event.

For the first time in competition he used a longer run up of 16 strides, competed on the longer 5.10m pole and started with a new opening height of 5.40m which he cleared on the second attempt.

Britain's other pole vault hopeful, Steve Lewis, was unable to beat Cutts at the London Grand Prix – but rather than choosing between the two rivals, UK Athletics opted to hand them both a place in the squad.

Ironically, Lewis made the final – succeeding at 5.65 at the third attempt, after his pole malfunctioned. Lewis declared: "I've got to be happy with that – I'm into the final, so it's job done".