Thames Valley Harriers Molly Caudery is determined to end up on the podium at next month’s World Indoor Championships.
The 23-year-old clinched her maiden UK Indoor women’s pole vault title in Birmingham last weekend with a personal best 4.85 metres clearance.
Caudery was miles ahead of nearest challengers Jade Ive (Sutton & District) and Harrow’s Jade Spencer-Smith who both cleared 4.31m to claim silver and bronze respectively via countback.
The stunning victory not only confirmed Caudery’s GB place at the World Indoors in Glasgow but she also tops the world season best ranking list, overtaking New Zealand’s Eliza McCartney who produced a 4.84m effort a week ago at Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Lievin, France.
“At the Worlds the medal will be my focus,” said Caudery. “To get to Paris (Olympics) will be a dream come true. Once I'm there it will be medals of course, but first it is to get on that runway.
“Women’s pole vault internationally is amazing and here too. We are a great bunch and very supportive to each other.
“It is amazing and almost overwhelming. I know I'm in great shape, but it is still fantastic to execute on the day. You couldn’t hear a pin drop when I went for that last height. I have to trust my training and not do too much - just build that consistency.”
Caudery is also planning to break both the British indoor (4.87m) and outdoor (4.90m) records held by Blackburn Harriers’ Holly Bradshaw.
“I need to re-evaluate my plans for the season as 4.80m was my target,”she added.
“I have already gone above and beyond. Of course the British record will be amazing and probably my new target.”
The Wormwood Scrubs-based club picked up three titles overall at the championships.
Amelia Campbell is keen to join Caudery in GB colours in Glasgow but still needs to get over the 19.30m qualifying mark in the women’s shot put despite claiming a second UK indoor title.
The 30-year-old threw 17.74m - enough to beat City of Portsmouth’s Serena Vincent (16.69m) and defending champion Sophie McKenna (16.55m) from Great Yarmouth.
“Ultimately my target was to execute a big throw and get the qualifying distance or enough points to enable me to get to Glasgow for World Indoors,” recently married Campbell said.
“The qualifying marks are very, very tough and I hope if I can get into the world’s top 16 I will get my chance. I'd love to go to a home world championships.”
Lily Hulland bagged her maiden senior domestic title in the women’s triple jump with a 13.06m leap.
Harrow’s Adelaide Omitowoju took silver with 12.94m ahead of Amy Warre (12.88m) from Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow.
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