International star Rob Denmark joined the chorus of those "hugely impressed" by Southend athlete Adam Hickey's phenomenal run in the Essex Schools' Championships at the weekend.
Denmark is now in the autumn of a fabulous career that has seen him perform with distinction at Olympic and Commonwealth Games plus World Championships.
His record in winning the Essex Schools intermediate 1,500m in 4 mins 01.8 secs had stood for 18 years before Southend High School's Hickey stormed round the Melbourne Park, Chelmsford, track in 3 mins. 59.6 secs -- the first athlete to ever crack the four-minute barrier in the 1,500 in the 72-year history of the championships.
On being told that Hickey had achieved the feat as a first year intermediate, just two weeks after his 15th birthday, Denmark said: "That makes it even more praiseworthy.
"When I won the title in 1985 I was already 16. I'd be lying if I said that it was a day that sticks in my memory -- in fact I can't ever recall where the championships were staged that year.
"But I do know that the win was very much a part of a major breakthrough for me in 1985. I went on to win the English Schools title and took the Southern Counties in 3 mins 56 secs.
"It was certainly my first Essex Schools title. To be candid before that I simply hadn't been good enough. I remember in particular a boy called Tom Gerrard from Thurrock used to beat me regularly."
It's well-documented that Denmark's father, who sadly died from cancer, was the major inspiration for his athletics career, but the Basildon AC man, who lives in Rayleigh, fondly remembers one other man who played a big part in the launch of his glory days in the sport.
He said: "Rob Edwards (now the Essex Schools AA secretary) was my PE teacher at Furtherwick Park and put in countless hours outside normal school time training not only myself but a large group of other keen athletes.
"I still see Rob fairly regularly and his enthusiasm was a major factor in my athletics at that time."
Published Wednesday, June 18, 2003
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