Whitgift's Swartz aiming for new heights in the high jump
OCEAN Swartz announced that his "lifetime ambition" is to clear two metres at high jump – which would be just higher than Jessica Ennis has ever achieved.
The Whitgift youngster has tried many sports, from triathlon to pentathlon.
Last Saturday he won Surrey Schools Championships silver in the U15 boys' high jump with 1.65m - a performance he described as "bad" - behind Mityrae Brooks, of Harris Crystal Palace, who leapt 1.70m.
"My personal best is 1.74m and I'm trying to get over 1.70m consistently," he said, offering the injury excuse: "I was at school and doing long jump, but the board was slippery and I pulled a ligament.
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"I knew I wasn't going to do exceptionally today," said Swartz, whose PB is good enough for Surrey selection for the English Schools Championships.
He was entered for the high jump because "it is pretty much the only thing I stand out in", adding: "In athletics, my aim for this year is 1.80m and I'm getting close."
While he is "trying to join a rugby club" and was third in the national pentathlon, liked triathlon and biathlon, he said he joined Holland Sports AC because it was the closest club and he wanted to try out athletics "just for fun" and really enjoyed it.
And it seems to have enthralled him: "My lifetime target is to jump two metres – that's pretty much my only target."
Croydon Harrier Brooks, meanwhile, felt he could win his main event. This isn't his main focus though as he also does hurdles and high jump.
"My ambition is to reach 1.75m by the end of July," said Brooks, ranked 22nd in the country and who wants to compete in August's national age-group open championships. He remains just short of qualifying for English Schools.
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