Harrogate’s Jacob Fincham-Dukes topped off a remarkable season by winning a surprise silver medal in the European Junior (u20) long jump competition held in Eskilstuna in Sweden. Part of the table topping GB team who won 11 gold medals and 6 silver medals, Fincham-Dukes leapt to a new personal best of 7.75m, to confirm his status as UK No 1 and to firmly put him on the world junior long jump map.
Fincham-Dukes came into the competition ranked 11th in Europe but was confident he could medal following a season where he has held all available County, Northern and National Indoor and Outdoor long jump titles.
Speaking about his performance, Jacob said:
I was not ranked to win a medal but I have been jumping well and knew if I could get through to the top 8 and the last 3 jumps, I could medal.
I have another year left in the juniors’ and I want to go to Russia and medal again, this time looking to come away with the gold.
Jacob continued saying that it had been a great experience representing GB and turned his attention to next year’s World Junior Championships in Russia
Jacob has thanked his coaches Matt Barton and Veronica Boden for all their excellent training and support and will shortly head off to the USA to look to develop himself further in the highly competitive college system with Oklahoma State University.
