SOLIHULL and Small Heath AC’s Jamie Russell jumped personal bests in both long jump and high jump on his way to becoming the Midlands Octathlon Champion in Abingdon.
Russell started day one by leaping 5.86 metres in the long jump and followed this up with solid performances in discus, javelin and 400m to lead the competition after four events.
Day two started with a solid run in the 100m hurdles and then set a huge personal best of 1.73m in the high jump which gave him a great lead going into the final two events.
Russell held his form in the shot put and finished with a personal best in the 1,500m to take the title.
The Arden School student will now compete in the national finals in September.
Ben Steele (9th) and Charlie Panayiotou (7th) competed in their first-ever combined events championships, finishing in very respectable positions.
Meanwhile, Poppy Koumblis finished 22nd in a very competitive junior girls event against girls who were one year her senior.
