Former R&NAC Member to Represent England U20’s
Jacob joined the club’s middle distance squad as a U13 athlete in 2006. Initially, as with many young athletes, he combined athletics with a number of other sports, especially rugby. It was obvious from an early age that Jacob had talent, but more importantly, he had the mental toughness that sets winners apart from other athletes.
In the early days, the younger middle distance athletes were looked after by a group of coaches (Pete Smith / Mel Smith / George Jones / Fiona Hills / Steve McGowan). However, as the squad increased in both numbers and average age, the coaching groups were divided up into roughly age based squads. Jacob became one of my group’s athletes as an U15 and stayed in my group until September 2013 when he went to study at St Mary’s, Twickenham and joined their prestigious middle distance squad coached by Mick Woods.
Jacob first made the decision he wanted to try and make athletics his career as an U17 athlete. His ambition from the start was to represent his country and he dedicated himself towards achieving this goal by stepping up his training. Initial results were encouraging and helped provide the incentive to work, train and compete harder.
He started winning Young Athlete/ Junior races on the track and Cross Country and started performing well in both Midland and National events, especially at Cross Country and he went on to represent the East Midlands.
As a coach, my role was simple – it was to put the foundations building blocks in place so that he could earn a place in a development squad such as that coached by Mick Woods (or a similar eminent national coach).
Jacob has benefitted immensely from being in the squad at St Marys, Twickenham alongside a group of highly talented international athletes and adopting their intensive training schedules. He has continued to develop and progress under the guidance of Mick Woods, improving his personal best performances with regularity. He represented the Midlands in the National XC Home Internationals in March 2014, beating many of the England squad in the race and also qualified to participate in the U20 National Track and Field Championships at Bedford.
However, 2015 has proved to be his breakthrough season. In January he won the Midlands U20 XC Championships and finished 6th in the English National XC Championships at Parliament Hill in February. That outstanding performance earned him his first international vest in March as he was called up to represent England U20’s at the Home Internationals held in Belfast.
Although he has moved on to working with another squad, Jacob has never forgotten his roots and his background. Despite the opportunity to join other clubs more local and convenient to his University training group, Jacob has remained a committed member of the R&N club and continues to represent the club at every possible opportunity that his schedule allows. He recognises the assistance and guidance that was given to him in his early years and wants to help the club in as many ways as possible.
Not only is he proud to wear the club blue/black vest on a national stage, he also recognises that he is important to the club as a role model and ambassador. He’s the senior figure of a growing group of young and talented athletes and know he can act as an example/role model of what can be achieved if you work hard (and have a little bit of luck on the way).
He knows how proud both the club and squad are of him. His visit the other night was just a way of saying ‘thank you’ to some of those from the club that have helped him to date, but also, just as importantly) to become known and seen by many of the younger athletes so they know who he is. After all, everything Jacob has achieved to date has been for himself, his family, his university, his coaches and for his club.
