IT HAS been a long season for William Scammell but the Devizes teenager ended it on a high note on his first appearance at the English Schools Combined Events Championships in Boston, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

Representing Wiltshire, Scammell, who is a student at Lavington School, performed with distinction to finish 16th of 42 finishers in the junior boys’ pentathlon.

Scammell achieved a personal best tally of 2,553 points the highlight of which was a sizzling time of 11.88secs in the 80m hurdles, the first time he has broken 12 seconds for the discipline.

“When Will finished the hurdles he had his head in his hands and I thought he had injured himself but it was just the shock of seeing the time,” said coach Julie Alexander.

“He smashed his PB and it was an exceptional run. Unfortunately his shot putt, which is one of his strongest events, didn’t go so well.

“Normally William throws well over 10m (his PB is 12.05m) but he could only manage 9.90m and that probably cost him a place in the top 10. It was only his second combined events match so it is all very new to him but he is quite a talent and only get better.”

St Augustine’s Catholic College student Peter Adeosun finished 24th on 2,395pts but his school mate Ransford Ako’Nai suffered three no jumps in the long jump so could only score 1,665pts in 40th.