PROMISING decathlete Jack Broadbent is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Dean Macey after getting his hands on a second under-20 title.

The Canvey Island-based Broadbent claimed the Essex County Championship Pentathlon crown in windy conditions at the Blackshots Stadium in Grays.

And Broadbent is now determined to match the achievements of Macey, who claimed two World Championship medals and a Commonwealth Games title during his own career.

“Being a multi-eventer from Canvey Island, there is a big legacy and a lot of pride around the sport,” said Broadbent, who competes for Basildon Athletics Club.

“Everyone I speak to is always very supportive and my dad and my uncle even attended the same school (Castle View) as Dean.

“They were good friends with him and it’s a nice connection to share.”

Broadbent set a new club record of 2,703 points to take the Essex County title, ahead of Harlow’s Leo Chashchin (2,442 points) and Thurrock’s Liam Chivers (2,211 points).

In taking the gold, Broadbent also became the UK’s top ranked under-20 athlete for the outdoor pentathlon.

His journey to gold involved setting four new personal bests, including the 200m (22.5 seconds), 1500m (5:06.15), discus (25.89m) and the javelin (31.42m).

The success came after Broadbent had also won the South of England under-20 heptathlon title in December.

And Broadbent, who is still just 17 and has two years left in the under-20 age group, is pleased to be making good progress.

“The Essex County Championship was a good opportunity for me to make improvements to some of the more technical events, such as javelin and discus,” said Broadbent.

“In the past these have been some of my weaker events, so I was pleased with how it went.”

But Broadbent has already turned his attentions towards the England Athletics National Combined Event Championships.

They take place in Bedford in late May and Broadbent is keen to prove his worth against the country’s best young decathletes.

“I will now be aiming to perform well at the nationals in May and I am aiming to reach the 6,000 point milestone,” said Broadbent.

“That would be a decathlon club record and hopefully be enough to secure a podium finish as well.”