RAYLEIGH pole vaulter Liam Yarwood admits going to Loughborough University was the best decision he’s made.

Yarwood won a bronze medal in the under-23 men’s pole vault at the England Under-23 Championships in Bedford, clearing 4.70m.

The 19-year-old former FitzWimarc School pupil is now being coached by former British international vaulter Kate Dennison and is pushing towards the magical 5m mark.

He has cleared 4.80m twice this year and says being around some of the country’s best at Loughborough is driving him on to succeed.

“I wasn’t sure before I went to Loughborough if I had made the right decision or not,” said Yarwood. “I didn’t know whether university would be right for me but those thoughts have gone now, I’m 100 per cent sure I made the right decision.

“The studies are going well and I’ve been vaulting really well and am pushing towards that 5m mark.

“Every day you are training alongside some of the best athletes in the country and the facilities are amazing.”

Yarwood’s next attempt at clearing 5m will come at a street event vault in Holland, while he has also signed for Sale Harriers who he will be competing in the British Athletics League for.