TRIPLE jumper Hannah Moody is back in action after a two-and-a-half year fight back from a serious injury to her spine.

The 19-year-old sixth form pupil at St Mary's RC School in Menston, and a member of Skyrac AC, left to the fourth longest triple jump recorded by an Under-17 indoors competitor while only 15 to give her silver in the AAA's Championship in the 1995/96 season.

However, a training camp injury meant Hannah had to endure two major back operations to insert metal fastenings to relieve stress fractures in her vertebrae.

After a painful two-and-a-half years, during which Hannah also had two foot operations, she is back.

At her first major outdoor event in the Yorkshire Championships at the Dorothy Hyman Stadium in Barnsely, Hannah jumped within 4cms of her best jump, recording 11.08 metres and securing silver medal in the senior event.

Hannah's aim is to jump for her county this season and in time perhaps even her country, but she needs to make good progress this season.

Her fight back so impressed her sponsors, The Flat Roof Company, based in North Yorkshire, that finance director Greg Gimenez, said: "We first sponsored Hannah's travelling and equipment costs in the 1995/96 season.

"When she became injured, we were very disappointed as we honestly thought she could go all the way.

"She has shown grit and determination during her fight back after the surgery on her back and we are once again pleased to be sponsoring her."

He added: "She is a credit to the efforts of her coaches and her single-minded approach is to be admired by all who, at some time or another, suffer a setback in their lives."

Hannah said: "Because I need specialist training for the triple jump, I often have to travel to meet my training coaches.

"Competitions can be anywhere in the UK and this sponsorship will allow me to travel to the main competitions and buy the proper equipment, a pair of triple jump spikes cost more than £80 a pair and I'm still at school."

Hannah also has the small matter of her A levels this month to consider, as well as her training, and she is hoping to attend the University of Birmingham in September to study sports.

She has been selected to jump for Leeds in the West Yorkshire trials after jumping two metres over the qualifying standard.

Hannah hopes she will be selected to jump for West Yorkshire in the English Schools competition in July.

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