It’s Sunday 5 March 2023 and it’s Gold at the European Indoor Athletics Championships with a personal best performance of 7.00 metres in the Women’s Long Jump for our very own Jazmin Sawyers – what a performance! Beating her own PB by a full 10 centimetres, and a stellar field including three times champion, Ivana Vuleta, and World Champion, Malaika Mihambo, Jazmin finally reaped the golden reward we all knew she deserved and was capable of achieving. Her profile on the Power of 10 goes back 17 years to 2005 and records a spectacular career competing for club and country. From harvesting points at Young Athletes League (now YDL) meetings as an outstanding junior multi-eventer, to winning medals for England and GB at international competitions as a senior long jumper, Jazmin has been a great ambassador for City of Stoke AC, for the city and her country. As an international athlete, her time is limited but she has never forgotten where she started. She wears her club vest with pride whenever she can, and always has time to come back to Northwood to present awards and lead coaching sessions for young athletes. Of course Sunday’s magnificent win was Jazmin’s achievement, the result of years of hard work with a succession of coaches. But I don’t think she will mind at all if we bask in some of the reflected glory as the Club that nurtured her talent during those early years. Congratulations, Jazmin, 7 metre jumper and European Indoor Champion!
Bill Dixon
Chair
City of Stoke AC