Hadaway jumping for gold at 2016 School Games

The 16-year-old, who will represent the North East at long jump, has had her most successful season by becoming English Schools Champion in 2016, and a medal at the School Games will confirm her status as one of the most promising young talents in British athletics.

The School Games will see about 1,600 of the nation’s finest young sports stars compete across 12 current and future Olympic and Paralympic sports – seven of which include disability competition – at Loughborough University from September 1 to 4. It is a key step on the road to senior success for Team GB’s next generation.

Fresh from setting a new personal best of 6.01 metres at the English Schools Championships, the Manor CE Academy pupil feels she can go further at the Games.

“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t expect to jump that far," Hadaway said about her PB. "It felt better than other jumps but I could have improved technique-wise on it.”

A jump around the six-metre mark would give her a great chance of a School Games medal, and she says the familiarity of the competition, having been to her first Games in Manchester last year, will help.

“I think it will again be fun," she said. "I think it was just a good experience and I think it will be more relaxed this year because I know what to expect."

The multi-sport School Games are seen as one of the annual highlights for school-age elite athletes.

Many of the competitors will have Olympic aspirations, and the experience is designed to give them a taster of what life in the athletes' village would be like in 2020 or 2024.

“It was good experience because you got to sit with all the other sports as well,” said Hadaway. "It was good mingling with everyone else from all the countries.

“It was fun wandering around the uni campus and getting to see everyone else.”

*The 2016 School Games tickets are on sale. To book your place to support the athletes and the Games, visit www.2016schoolgames.com/tickets