Tompson is Suffolk's golden boy
Thursday, 15th July 1999.
The 16-year-old middle distance runner from Great Bradley will compete for England in the junior home international at Carmarthen, his reward for a stunning victory at the schools blue ribband event.
Roared on by a vociferous home support at the West Suffolk Arena, Bury St Edmunds, Tompson led from start to finish and was well clear in the in the intermediate (under-17) boys 800m race.
The Newmarket Upper School pupil knocked a second off his personal best as he stopped the clock at 1:53.68.
"The heats were harder than I thought," said Tompson, who competes for Cambridge and Coleridge.
"So I spoke to my trainer from Kent and we planned that I'd lead from the start.
"I was aiming to go through 400 in 55 sec, but it was 54, and I was a bit worried, but luckily it worked out and I got a pb.
"I've never come close to a medal before," said Tompson, who moved from Kent a couple of years ago. "It feels great."
Picture caption: Golden Glow . . . Stephen Tompson with his English schools gold medal
