Teenager Olly Downs was in record-breaking form as he became a national octathlon champion. Downs came top in the eight-event competition at Manchester’s Sportscity - and did so in style.
The 14-year-old from Invicta East Kent had realised the England Athletics Championship under-15 octathlon record was in his sights before his final event, a 1k race in the stadium, at the England Athletics under-15 & under-17 Combined Event Championships this month.
He said: “The old record was 4,407 points. Halfway through the competition, I thought I could probably chase it. “After all the other events, I only had the 1k left, obviously, and I had to run 2min57sec.
I did a 1k the week before and I only ran 3.02.00 so I had to run pretty fast. “But then - and I don’t know how - I ran the 1k in 2.53.00.