TROWBRIDGE junior international high jumper Tom Gale is hoping to get the nod for another Great Britain vest at the Loughborough International Games a week on Sunday.

It was at this same meeting a year ago that the 18-year-old John of Gaunt School student made his debut for the GB junior team to launch a summer of success that culminated in his ninth place at the World Junior Championships in Poland.

“I have not heard yet but I am hoping to get picked for the GB U20 team again at the Loughborough International,” said Gale.

“It is always nice to wear the GB kit and it is a good meeting but if I don’t get selected I will still be there jumping as a guest.”

On his indoor form during the winter Gale appears to be in pole position to claim the sole place available in the GB team as he won the England U20s title and set an indoor personal best of 2.17m, which was just one centimetre below his outdoor best.

Last weekend he opened his 2017 summer campaign with victory in the opening British Men’s League Division Two match at Kingston clearing 2.07m to finish well clear of the field – and is the best jump by a junior so far this season.

“It was not quite what I was hoping for but it is the highest season opening height I have done and, to be honest, my legs felt really tired after some hard training recently,” said Gale, who was competing as a higher claim athlete for Bristol & West AC.

“I had a really good training camp in Tenerife and was working with my coach for five hours every day which was great as normally I only get to see him one a week as he lives in Cardiff.

“I would have liked to have jumped higher on Saturday but I won and didn’t let down anyone.”

While Gale awaits to hear about Loughborough he will be in action again on Sunday at the Wiltshire Championships in Tidworth.

“I have lots of smaller events with everything geared towards the England U20 and British Senior Championships and then, hopefully, the European U20 Championships and my final English Schools’,” added Gale.

WILTSHIRE-BASED Team Bath runner Mike Dooley clocked a personal best of 35 minutes 23 seconds in the Simplyhealth Great Bristol 10k at the weekend.

The performance also earned Dooley second place in the over 50s age group.