New personal best for Alfie Whytock leads to second age group gold

Alfie Whytock set a new personal best as he claimed his second Swim England Diving National Age Group Championships gold medal.

In a thrilling battle for top spot with Southampton Diving Academy’s Oliver Wignall, Luton Diving Club’s Whytock showed his class in the penultimate round of the Boys 12-13 Years Platform at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge.

Whytock had been second throughout the competition but he scored an impressive 49.20 with his inward one-and-a-half somersaults in pike position to edge ahead of Wignall for the first time.

And Wignall had no answer after Whytock scored 38.00 for his back one-and-a-half somersaults in tuck position in his final dive.

He finished with a total of 240.45 – 18.25 clear of Wignall, who had dropped valuable points when he scored only 20.25 with his second-to-last dive.

Happy to win gold

Whytock, who won gold alongside Jordan Fisher-Eames in the 8-13 Years 1m Synchro on the opening day of the competition, said: “I’m really happy to win the gold.

“I beat my PB as well, my previous one was 229, but this time I got 240 so I enjoyed it. I’ve got the 3m and 1m competitions left which I’m excited for.”

Wignall had looked impressive at the beginning of the contest and scored over 40 points with three of his first four dives.

His best, a forward two-and-a-half somersaults in pike position, earned him an impressive 48 points.

But he would have been disappointed with his penultimate jump that allowed Whytock to take full advantage and grab the gold.

Dive London Aquatics Club’s Hamish Patel was third with a total of 216.95.

Top