Jeffs PB rewarded with Commonwealth Games selection

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat

TEENAGE javelin thrower Izzy Jeffs has been drafted into England's Commonwealth Games squad to replace the injured Goldie Sayers.

SELECTED: Izzy Jeffs has been rewarded for a recent big personal best with a call-up to England's Commonwealth Games team

Sayers, who finished fourth in the Olympic final in Beijing, was forced this week to admit defeat in her battle to recover from the hip injury she suffered at this year's Aviva UK Championships.

Jeffs, who has also struggled with injury this season, has been rewarded for throwing a massive 54.89 metre personal best at last month's Bedford International Games - erasing her former mark by nearly four metres.

"I'm really looking forward to Delhi and it came as a bit of a surprise really," she said.

"I obviously threw over the qualifying standard but I still wasn't sure I would make the team because sometimes they want you to have done it more than once.

"It will be the biggest competition I have been involved in by far and I am really nervous about it because I don't want to go there and do rubbish.

"But I have confidence now after Bedford and hopefully I can keep pushing forward and do myself proud over there.

"I had planned to be watching it from the comfort of my sofa but I am glad I have had to change that now."

Last year Jeffs finished a disappointing 13th at the World Youth Championships in Italy and she failed to qualify for this year's World Junior Championships after struggling with a back injury at the trials.

"I haven't set myself any targets because I know it will be a big step up for me to get anywhere near a medal," she added.

"So I am treating the Commonwealth Games as a massive learning experience and no matter what happens I know I will learn so much from going up against such strong competition.

"I have had a tough year but this is the perfect way to finish off my season and I am finishing on a high whatever happens."

* UKA Heroes project sponsored by Original Source is a successful initiative which offers financial support to talented young athletes who are working towards the 2012 and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.