Avis signs off with stylish win

Competing in his final South West Schools Track & Field Champion-ships, Ash Avis signed off in style with an impressive sprint double.

- Kevin Fahey

Twelve months ago, the 18-year-old Team Bath sprinter had to settle for two silvers but he converted those into gold at the Exeter Arena last weekend with victories in the senior boys 100m and 200m events.

In a season in which Avis has already set PBs of 10.68secs and 21.58secs respectively, his winning times of 10.88secs and 21.84secs represented solid efforts, particularly the latter into a headwind.

Avis wasn’t the only gold medallist from the club as Olivia Paul, who was representing Wiltshire, raced to vic-tory in the inter girls 1,500m steeple-chase.

That wasn’t just a tremendous win for her but also a real triumph for her coach Mark Thomas, who also coaches the silver medallist Poppy Feasey (Avon) and the bronze medal-list Isobel Stacey (Somerset).

“Olivia has done just three steeple-chase races and is currently ranked second in the country,” said a proud Thomas.

“She and Poppy have been selected to represent their counties at the Eng-lish Schools Championships”