Alex leaps to a record

Newbury high jumper makes his mark in Czech Republic with a UK age group best

HIGH jump starlet Alex Craninx leaped to a personal best when competing alongside some of the world's best jumpers in the latest round of the Moravian High Jump Tour at Hustopece in the Czech Republic.

The 16-year old bettered his own Newbury AC club record by clearing 2.04 metres in the junior indoor competition at the

Trinec venue.

Taking off from a specially laid surface in an indoor basketball court, he cleared the same height as the leading three jumpers, all two years older and who claimed the medal positions on countback, first place going to Tomas Vesely of SSK Vikovice.

Alex was well clear of Atletika Jihlava's Vit Molva, in fifth place with a best leap of 1.93m in the packed hall which was to see Aleksey Dmitrik win the men's competition with a world-leading 2.35m, going close to breaking the Russian record of 2.41m.

Alex's clearance, meanwhile, places him first equal in the UK under 20 rankings.