Campbell is Spear Class
25 August 2004

James Campbell is the latest youngster to be crowned Athlete of the Month - after throwing himslef into the record books. the sixteen year old landed the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland Award, run in association with the Army and the Daily Record, after smashing the Scottish javelin record.

Campbell's throw of 67.99 metres at the English Schools championships this summer earned him the gold medal and bettered the previous national best by a whopping seven metres. The Cheltenham based ace has also won gold in a British Schools International this summer with a throw of 65.51m. And Campbell, who throws for local club Cheltenham Harriers, is a hot tip to make the Scotland squad for November's Commonwealth Youth Games in Australia.

The talented teenager met current Commonwealth champ Steve Backley recently and can't wait to watch his hero in action at the Olympics on Friday. Campbell said: "Steve is a great role model who knows all about the psychological side of the sport and I hope he does will in Athens. Watching the Olympics on TV makes you really want to be out there. It's the biggest spectacle in the world and maybe I'll make the 2012 Games. But before that I'll hopefully get to compete at this year's Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo. It would be an amazing experience".

Article by Colin Hutchison from the Daily Record 25 August 2004

James will receive an Army sponsored training grant of £200 to assist him with his preparations for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo.