By Pete Thompson

BLACKHEATH and Bromley Harriers triple jumper Stefan Amokwandoh is dreaming of becoming the next Phillips Idowu and aims to show why at next week’s Sainsbury’s School Games in Sheffield.

The 16-year-old will make his debut at the School Games in the Steel City, which is set to see 1,600 youngsters compete across different 12 sports.

Amokwandoh has enjoyed a successful season to date winning the English Schools title in July and jumping a legal personal best of 14.44m two weeks later in Dublin.

He leapt to a wind assisted 14.56m last month and, expecting a competitive field at the School Games, Amokwandoh is adamant he can propel himself to even greater heights.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Amokwandoh.

“It will be great to go out and represent the south east and compete against the best.

“I just narrowly missed out on competing at the Games last year so I’ve been looking forward to this competition for two years now.

“The Games were early last year because of the Olympics and I did a few competitions before but another guy jumped better than me.

“It’s been quite a good season and I’m just hoping to get a personal best, 15 metres is my aim and I really think I can do it this season and that’s the target.

“The School Games will really push me and there will be lots of good athletes and people will be peaking for it.”

Amokwandoh’s ambitions do not stop at simply reaching a new personal best in Sheffield, particularly since watching his idols at the London 2012 Olympic last summer.

Ever since then Amokwandoh, who used to be part of Charlton Youth Academy, has harboured aspirations to follow in the likes of fellow Brit and former world champion Idowu.

“We are all pushing to be the next Phillips Idowu,” he added “I really want to be the best and I really want to be on the world stage.

“It’s hard to tell what’s going to happen because the Olympics are so far away but I take it really seriously and I want to be the best.

“I watched all of the London 2012 Olympics. Definitely watching my heroes, people like Phillips Idowu and Christian Taylor, was an inspiration.”

The Sainsbury's 2013 School Games, which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, takes place in Sheffield from September 12 to September 15.

For more information, visit 2013schoolgames.com

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