Anniversary Games: Hague vaults into elite company in London

As he steps onto the international scene once again, this time to take on the very best athletes in Europe, this could well be the year that 20-year-old pole vaulter Adam Hague comes of age.
High flier: South Yorkshire pole vaulter Adam Hague competing at the Commonwealth Games where he finished fourth. (Picture: PA)High flier: South Yorkshire pole vaulter Adam Hague competing at the Commonwealth Games where he finished fourth. (Picture: PA)
High flier: South Yorkshire pole vaulter Adam Hague competing at the Commonwealth Games where he finished fourth. (Picture: PA)

Victory in February’s British Indoors brought Hague his first senior domestic gold, while a trip to the Commonwealth Games in April gave him his first shot at the senior international stage, being edged out of the medals by, of all people, his training partner Luke Cutts.

Now the former European Junior champion is ready to take on the seniors, starting today at the Anniversary Games in London and next month at the European Championships.

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“I was relieved to get my spot at the Europeans,” said Hague. “It had been on my mind all season as my big main aim so once I’d done that I was just really happy.

“It was a real battle to get through (the European trials) but luckily I managed silver so I’m really happy with that. I know where I’m at and I know what improvements I need to make and I got better as the competition went along, so that’s progress.”

Hague is at the vanguard of a new wave of British vaulters, along with Charlie Myers and Joel Leon Benitez.

“We all went to the same Junior Championships together so we’re all good friends and know each other really well,” said Hague, who is part of the Dearne Athletics Club which nearly a decade earlier produced double Commonwealth Games medallist Cutts.

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“Every champs we go to we all see each other and say ‘oh look we’re here again!’

“It’s special for us as a group and it’s also great for the sport to see that there are a lot of young vaulters doing really well. We always want people to come and get involved in our sport so we’re really happy with that.”

This weekend’s Anniversary Games offers Hague the chance to debut in the iconic London Olympic stadium.

“I just can’t wait to get out there. Result-wise it’s important but it’s also definitely a competition that I really want to go and enjoy.

“It’s my first ever time competing there so just to compete in front of a British crowd in a big stadium is something I’m really looking forward to.”

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