Telford javelin star has the all-time record in her sights
Young javelin thrower Ellie Vernon has become No.1 in the country – just two years after a back injury forced her to give up gymnastics.
Vernon, from Telford, has moved to the top of the Power of 10 British Under-13s girls rankings after producing a personal best throw of 37.73.
The 12-year-old, who represents Telford Athletic Club, came up with the table-topping effort in Tamworth at the Shropshire & Staffordshire Inter-county Championships.
Vernon, who lives in Muxton, was understandably delighted with her achievement, but mother Louise said that it was even more remarkable as she was sidelined with a stress fracture in her spine two years earlier.
"Ellie was a gymnast competing at quite a high level when she got injured," she said. "She had to find another sport.
"She was playing football for Newport Athletic Girls one day and she was taking a long throw. One of the mums was an athletics coach and she said 'you should take her to a throwing coach at your local athletics club'.'
Just 18 months after she took up the sport, Vernon sits top of the UK rankings – and she is now taking aim at the national record for her age group.
"She was very pleased to get to the top of the rankings and she is now trying to break the all-time record, which is over 38m," said Louise.
If it seems like a lofty ambition, it should come as little surprise from an athlete whose idol is British golden girl Jessica Ennis-Hill.
The Sheffield-born hepathlete became a national heroine when she struck gold at London 2012 and the multi-talented Vernon is hoping to one day follow in her footsteps.
She is currently ranked 44th in the 75m sprint and 28th in the 75m hurdle.
Athletics may not be the only sporting avenue available to her, though, as she also plays football for the county and is a member of Shropshire's development netball team.
