EYOF 2011: Asong not content with re-writing record books just once

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat in Tabzon

THERE IS just no pleasing some people and Clovis Asong is one of them, the 400m runner still looking for more despite romping to gold on day three of the European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey.

RECORD BREAKER: Clovis Asong set a new European Youth Olympic Festival 400m record on his way to collecting gold in Trabzon, Turkey

The 16-year-old had already set Trabzon's Sogutlu Athletics Stadium alight just 48 hours earlier after setting a new championship best of 46.74 seconds in his heat.

But he wasn't done there, returning on Wednesday to take the title, nearly two seconds ahead of his nearest challenger Steffen Dale Trenk from Germany.

However, with his final time of 46.93 seconds, Asong couldn't help but wish he had gone faster still to re-write the history books one more time.

"I am really pleased to have ended up with the gold and that is what I came here to do so it is job well done from that point of view," he said.

"But I am still a bit disappointed with my final time because after running a new personal best in the heat I wanted to do the same in the final.

"And I felt as though I could have done it because I have been feeling good all week but for whatever reason it just didn't happen.

"But the most important thing is that I ended up with the gold at the end of the day.

"To call myself one of the fastest in Europe over 400m is amazing but I will train even faster and try and get faster."

The track was where Team GB enjoyed their success on day three, Sophie Riches comfortably sealing 1500m gold, with Elliot Safo joining her and Asong on the top step of the podium after taking the long-jump crown with a personal best of 7.38m.

And the 17-year-old admits he has to pinch himself when seeing the gold medal hanging around his neck.

"I am obviously really happy to have won gold but I am just really shocked at the same time," Safo said.

"That is probably the first time ever that everything has gone according to plan and that I haven't had my scorecard littered with no jumps.

"So I am just so glad that it all came together when it really mattered, on the big stage, and it is just an unbelievable feeling."

Meanwhile, it was all action on Trabzon's roads as Britain's cycling team endured an up and down day in the criterium.

Jacob Scott fell in his heat only to dust himself off and qualify for the final, where he was the highest placed Brit in sixth, with Tao Geoghegan Hart behind him in 40th, Christopher Lawless failing to complete the B final.

In the gymnasium the girls team of Angel Romaeo, Abigail Caig and Gabrielle Jupp finished the team event in seventh, while over at the judo, Aidan Moffat narrowly missed out on -60kg bronze, losing to Georgian Tamazi Kirakozashvili.

Lloyds TSB is a Proud Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Official Supporter of Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival.  Visit:www.lloydstsb.com/london2012

(c) Sportsbeat 2011