EYOF 2011: Sprint queen Papps has high hopes for future

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat in Trabzon

SOPHIE Papps admits she is dreaming big after being crowned sprint queen at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey, claiming 100m gold as Great Britain went on a medal surge on day two in Turkey.

NUMBER ONE: Sophie Papps celebrates winning 100m gold on day in Trabzon at the European Youth Olympic Festival

On a day where Team GB claimed nine medals, there was no doubting that 16-year-old Papps was the star of the show at Trabzon's Sogutlu Athletics Stadium.

Papps breezed through her semi-final before returning to the track just hours later to comfortably take the 100m title in 11.82 seconds, with Switzerland's Samantha Dagry in second and Solenn Compper from France picking up bronze.

And with the Youth Olympic crown already in her grasp, Papps admits the whole experience has left her hungry for more.

"I am absolutely over the moon to have won gold. Words can't describe how good it feels to have won - I am just so excited," she said.

"Everything has gone perfect since I arrived in Trabzon and I have been feeling really good and I felt it out there and all my hard work paid off.

"I have had an experience of a life time out in Turkey and this gold means it can only get better with World Juniors and the senior Olympics perhaps one day.

"Wearing the Team GB kit is such an honour and just by putting it on I felt that something inside of me lit up and it really spurred me on and I really want to do it again as soon as possible."

Leon Reid made sure it was a birthday he would never forget as he celebrated turning 16 with silver in the 100m, and he was joined on the second step of the podium by Gordon Benson thanks to his efforts in the 3000m.

Elliot Safo and Abbie Hetherington safely made it through to their long-jump and 800m finals, while Shadine Duquemin finished seventh in the discus final.

Tuesday also saw the judo get underway and there was plenty more for Team GB to celebrate as Hayley Willis silenced the raucous home crowd by pipping Turkish opponent Nazlican Kilic to -44kg bronze, while Samuel Hall picked up -55kg silver.

And 15-year-old Hall also booked himself a spot at August's World Cadet Judo Championships thanks to his triumph, leaving him to plan world domination after breezing past most of what Europe threw at him.

"My aim coming into the competition was to win a medal and the fact that I have done that means I am really chuffed with my performance," said Hall, who benefits from being on the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes Initiative.

"It would have been nice to win the gold and on another day I think that I might have been able to do it but it just wasn't to be this time around.

"And I also had to finish in the top five in my weight category to get into the World Cadets which I have managed to do so I have that to look forward to now.

"Winning silver in Turkey gives me confidence for that competition and I will be looking to go there and win gold after just missing out this time around."

And the medal flow didn't stop there with the gymnastic boys team of Courtney Tulloch, Frank Baines and Anthony Wise collecting team silver.

There was also more success on day two in the pool as Matthew Johnson claimed his second gold of the competition, this time in the 400m freestyle, before bringing his medal tally to four thanks to 4x200m mixed freestlye relay silver, alongside Siwan Thomas-Howells, Ellena Jones and Alex Dunk.

And Shauntelle Austin also came away with something to show for her efforts, winning 200m backstroke bronze in 2:17.83 minutes.

Elsewhere, on the roads of Trabzon, Tao Geoghagan Hart was Team GB's star cyclist, finishing the 9km time trial in fourth, his time of 13:04.55 just over half-a-second off bronze.

Christopher Lawless' time was good enough for 16th while Jacob Scott ended the course in 13:33.23 minutes for 37th place.

Meanwhile, Britain's tennis starlets found it tough going in the Turkish heat, with both the boys and girls doubles falling out of the competition, and Lewis Roskilly's singles adventure ending at the hands of Switzerland's Simon Sondergaard.

Lloyds TSB, in partnership with SportsAid, is providing awards of £1,000 to 344 emerging athletes on their journey to London 2012 and beyond. Follow your Lloyds TSB Local Hero at: www.facebook.com/lloydstsblocalheroes  

(c) Sportsbeat 2011