Hannah wins Scottish pole vault title after just two months in the sport

Jun 24 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

A TEENAGE pole vaulter has scooped a gold medal at the Scottish Schools Athletic Association Track and Field Championships – less than two months after she took up the sport.

Hannah Lawler (13) only started pole vaulting at the beginning of May after being inspired by watching professional vaulters at the Aviva international competition at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow in January.

Hannah’s father said: “Her initial desire to have a try at pole vaulting was delayed due to a fractured elbow.

“She was only able to start learning this technically demanding sport at the end of April.”

The Scottish Schools Championships was Hannah’s first competition and took place on June 12 at Grangemouth Stadium.

The Coltness High School second-year pupil vaulted a personal best height of one metre 80cm to win gold in the under 14 age group.

Hannah is now a member of Cumbernauld AAC but now trains twice weekly at the indoor pole vault facilities at Grangemouth Stadium alongside some of the top pole vaulters in Scotland.

Hannah’s next aim is to make the two metre qualifying height for the Under-15 Scottish National Championships, to be staged in August.

Her twin brother Andrew also participated in the Scottish Schools competition, finishing 10th in the boys under-14 years 1500m.

Andrew is a member of the North Lanarkshire Athletics Development squad, having recently finished third in the 2.5km Great Edinburgh Junior Run.

Younger brother Matthew (8) won the 1.5km event.