Jessica Hunter made her Senior International Debut at the European Athletics Championships in Munich in August. She reached the semi-finals in the 100m Hurdles winning her qualifying heat in impressive fashion.
Jess had an anxious wait to learn of her selection for the Europeans having missed out on the Commonwealth Games despite lying third in the UK rankings. We met her days before the team was announced while she was competing at the Sonnex Stadium in London at the LICC Challenge Open. She was all geared up for her first global Championship vest butwhile to hile she had recorded a sub 13 secs mark of 12.79 secs, it was marred by by +5.4 m/s wind.
Other attempts at the qualification standard had also been hit by over the limit following breezes. However, her high European standing put her in contention for for an EAA invitation, which the national governing body approved.
Jess was a hugely popular member of our squad some years ago as a youngster when she took her first tentative steps in hurdling while a pupil at what is now St Michaels. Even at that time and as a novice she showed clear signs of great potential at this event and so it was a shame when she moved to Aylesbury.
However, she stayed committed to the sport and after a period trying out multi-events at Vale of Aylesbury AC she focused on the Hurdles under Scott Grace and joined Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. In a hectic season, the newly qualified Sports Therapist and sports model has competed extensively throughout Europe in France, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Belgium this season alone.
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