Luke Cutts is going for gold at the Commonwealth Games - and heading to Glasgow in confident mood.
The Thurnscoe pole vault star finished second in last weekend’s Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.
And he is now aiming to go one better at the Commonwealth Games, which officially opened last night.
Cutts recorded a season’s best clearance of 5.60m in London. It was good enough for second place as he ran world record holder and Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie close, the Frenchman taking the win with a height just ten centimetres higher.
“I am pretty pleased with that performance and a season’s best,” said Cutts.
“It was a good crowd and jumping against Renaud, I always perform better anyway, I don’t know why that is.
“This has given me loads of confidence ahead of the Commonwealths. There could be an England one, two, three and hopefully it will happen. Jumping like I have done [in London] means I will be heading for gold now.”
Cutts, 26, has spent this year recovering from a neck injury.
But coach Trevor Fox is hopeful that the reigning British indoor champion will reach top form just in time for Glasgow.
Fox told the Times: “Luke’s progressing nicely since his injury. He’s improved his jump by 10cm every time he jumps.
“He jumped 5.60 at the weekend and he wasn’t 100 per cent fit. It’s not bad coming second to the world record holder.”
Although the Games begin today, the men’s pole vault does not take place until August 1, giving Cutts more time to prepare.
“It’s still a while away yet,” Fox said. “Luke is training at home, we’re not going up to Glasgow until July 30.
“Hopefully Luke will be able to do some training at Loughborough with the downhill run up.”
Cutts broke the 12-year-old British indoor record in France in January with a 5.83m jump.
He finished eighth in the World Indoor Championships in March.