Jacob has won multiple national titles as a 400m hurdler and multi-eventer throughout the age groups in his athletics career.
Jacob has competed in athletics from a young age in many events but now specialises in the 400m hurdles which he is excelling. Jacob was injured at the end of the 2014 season in the last year of his junior career which frustrated him not being able to compete but also motivated him to reach his future aspirations in the senior age group.
Jacob’s greatest achievement to date is taking a bronze medal at the European Junior Championships in 2013 in the 400m hurdles event. He ran a time of 50.71s which ranks 5th on the UK u20 all-time list. Earlier this year, Jacob’s PB was 50.38 seconds which he has now bettered this season getting ever closer to qualification for the European Championships and Olympics.
The GLL Sport Foundation has supported Jacob for the past 6 years and has been highly beneficial to his sporting journey. Jacob is now an employee at the Epsom Rainbow Leisure Centre which is run by GLL and he has a great connection with the company.
“Overall GLL has been a massive help in aiding my progression from the youth to junior age group in the past, and their continued generosity and support I hope will aid my progression to senior elite level. The support I receive from GLL is vital for my development as it eases the ever growing costs of competing at elite level through providing memberships and access to the amazing facilities necessary for my progression.”
2015 was Jacob’s first season in the senior age group and his early 2016 PB mentioned earlier gave him 7th place in the senior UK rankings. Jacob also finished 4th at the senior British Championships, still only 21 years old.
Jacob’s aims for the 2016 season is to remain injury free, improve his UK ranking, British championships finish and PB. So far this year he has improved on his personal best and has run 50.20s which ranks him 2nd in the senior UK rankings currently. Jacob aims to further this PB, and to break the 50 second barrier for the first time in an attempt to maintain this ranking.
Jacob’s longer-term aims include becoming a consistent member of the senior GB team competing at Olympic games, European and World championships, and continuing to better his PB year on year.
