JAVELIN thrower Rebecca Tunnicliffe is continuing to soar in top events, writes Steve Carroll.

Fresh from returning with a haul of medals from the Malta International, the 14-year-old City of York Athletics Club star smashed her rivals at the Yorkshire Track and Field Championships at Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium last weekend.

Tunnicliffe, who attends Lady Lumley’s School, broke a 29-year-old record when easily winning the under-15 girls’ final with a throw of 35.23 – seven metres clear of Doncaster’s Nicole Bewley.

Tunnicliffe, who lives in Pickering, then finished second in the U15 discus final, with 24.80, but also returned home from the two-day meet with a win in the U15 shot-putt final with a throw of 11.31.

Paul Wilson, Tunnicliffe’s throwing coach, said the latest success showed the rapid development she was making in the disciplines but stressed the javelin was her preferred choice.

“She’s the best javelin thrower I have had,” he said.

“She is ranked second in the country in her U15 age group and I believe she will definitely be number one by the end of the year.

“When she was training in Malta, she got close to the British record and I hope she can continue to develop. She could be one of the best in the country.”

Tunnicliffe’s next stop is the National Championships on May 23 and Wilson is hopeful she can grab another top medal in the face of the sternest opposition.

“She can go far,” he added. “She will still be too young for the 2012 Olympics, but the next time I think she could have a really good chance.”