New PBs for King and Gale as student athlete Bethany Close earns first England call-up
David King got his outdoor season off to a flying start during an encouraging weekend of action for athletes who train at the University of Bath.
The Sports Performance graduate, a sporting ambassador for Team Bath partners MJ Church, set a new personal best of 13.49 as he won his 110m hurdles heat at the Meeting Elite de Montgeron-Essonne in France before finishing runner-up in the final in 13.57.
King, coached by James Hillier at the Sports Training Village, has been selected to represent England at the Loughborough International match on Sunday (May 21) along with Sport & Exercise Science student Bethany Close. Olivia Caesar, who also studies Sport & Exercise Science, is in the England women’s 4x400m relay team.
It will be a senior international debut for 400m hurdler Close, who is coached by Colin Bovell and Tony Hadley.
“This is a great opportunity for Beth and her first international vest,” said Bovell, Head Track & Field Coach at the University. “There are big but achievable targets for Beth this year – watch this space.”
Rio 2016 medallist Eilidh Doyle, coached by Malcolm Arnold, enjoyed her first 400m hurdles outing of the year as clocked a winning time of 56.23 at the Ter Specke Bokaal in the Netherlands, finishing six seconds clear of the field.
Paralympic champion Paul Blake, coached by Rob Ellchuk, was runner-up in the T36 400m at the Miting Internacional D’Athletisme in Barcelona.
Team Bath AC’s Tom Gale, who is supported by the Talented Athlete Sponsorship Scheme (TASS) at the University, added 2cm to his personal best as he won the Wiltshire County Championships high jump title with a 2.20m clearance – a qualifying mark for the European Junior Championships.
Click here to find out more about the athletics programme at the University of Bath.
Ecstatic to PB in my first race of the season! 13.49 (+0.6) 😀 pic.twitter.com/hFEUt73zI9
— David King (@DaveKing_) May 14, 2017
