TOM Gale’s rise to become one of the best young high jumpers in the country continues apace as he shattered his personal best to underline his serious intent of challenging for qualify for the World Junior Championships.

The 18-year-old Trowbridge athlete soared to 2.13m to win the opening British Men’s League match, adding eight centimetres to his previous best set during the indoor season.

It lifts Gale to second in the UK Rankings for under 20 men but is the highest jump outdoors this year, with current number one Rory Dwyer, of Stratford-upon-Avon, having cleared 2.15m indoors and only managed 2.05m outdoors so far.

“I am quite proud of myself really,” said a modest Gale.

“When I cleared 2.13m and landed on the mat, I thought ‘that was okay’. My dad was a lot more excited than I was.”

Gale, who is a student at John of Gaunt School, twice bettered his previous PB of 2.05m as he first cleared 2.09m – the competition was long won - before raising the bar to 2.13m.

“After clearing that, the bar went up to 2.17m, which is the qualifying standard for the World Junior Championships,” added Gale, who was competing for Bristol & West AC as a higher qualification athlete.

“I came close but there are a few technical things I have to work on for the next time but I am not far away now and it is definitely reachable.”

Gale’s leap forward can be traced back to a decision by his long-standing coach at Team Bath AC, Di Viles, to ask for help from the experienced national coach Denis Doyle, who is based in Cardiff.

That has meant extra commitment and travel for Gale and his family to head across the Severn Bridge for regular coaching sessions but that effort is being well rewarded – and even greater glory lies ahead.

“I am very grateful for Di for introducing me to Denis,” said Gale. “In just seven or eight months, I have improved from 1.96m to 2.13m since working with Denis so I can definitely say I have the right coach.

“I will be working hard now to get ready for the World Junior trials in Bedford next month but before then, I might have a chance of winning my first GB U20 vest for the Loughborough International later this month.”