'Incredible' West London pupil achieves world high jump record

Dominic Ogbechie,

Fifteen-year-old Dominic Ogbechie, a pupil at the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in West London, certainly set the bar high at the England Athletics National Championships on Saturday, achieving a World Record for his age in the High Jump.

England Athletics report on Dominic's success as follows:

'Imperious is the only way to describe Dominic Ogbechie (Highgate, Marcus Guei) in the U17 boys' high jump. He opened his account with a 1.95 clearance that looked all the world like he could break the championship best of 2.13 if he felt like it, such was the gap between him and the bar. And so it proved with similar soaring efforts at 2.00, 2.06 and 2.11 before he glided over 2.14 to break the 29-year-old mark of 2.13 that stood to Brendan Reilly.

'For those who enjoy such stats that clearance meant Dominic became the youngest Briton to ever clear 7ft indoors or out, but that was merely the start of what was a stunning 15 minutes. He added 4cm to that height and whipped over 2.18 first time of asking. Talk turned to the European record for a 15-year-old that stood at 2.20, but Dominic had his eyes on something rather more lofty - 2.22, and the World Age Best. And over he went, simple and smooth as that. "Wow! Oh wow, oh wow," is all Reilly could say. He did look a bit tired as he tried for 2.25, but watch out tomorrow in the long jump there may be more to report.'

And Dominic again proved one to watch, going on to jump 7.53m in the Long Jump - smashing the UK indoor Under-17 Long Jump record by 31cm.

Chris Bailey, Teacher of PE at Cardinal Vaughan, said: "Dominic was a talented athlete when he started at the Vaughan, but only with hard work and commitment to training has he progressed to being a double World Record holder. When Greg Rutherford tweeted Dominic's performance was 'incredible' and European Athletics tweeted 'watch out for this name', it really brought home just how lucky we are to have such a talent at the school, and Dominic is truly an example to us all."

Mr Stubbings, Dominic's Headteacher, said: "What makes Dominic's achievements doubly exciting is that not only has he set world records, but he has done this so young - he can go even further and higher!"

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Read more about the Cardinal Vaughan School here: www.cvms.co.uk