After setting the World Junior Games alight last year, St Albans’ Mitchell Dutton insists he is in no mood to slow down in 2015.

The 19-year-old, who competes in the F38 discus and javelin, set a new junior world record on his way to a gold medal at the World Junior Games in August, with a mammoth effort of 39.73m.

This feat was made all the impressive considering that Dutton, who is still a member of St Albans Athletic Club, was appearing in his first GB vest at the time. And ahead of next summer’s Rio Paralympics, Dutton is hoping for more of the same this year.

“The last few months have been really good for me,” he said. “Competing for Great Britain at the World Junior Games was really special and to win the gold medal with a world record was incredible. It’s a big improvement on how far I was throwing at this time last year, which is really encouraging. It’s down to hard work and more time spent in training.

“I am now really starting to get ready for Rio. The qualifying throw is 35 metres which obviously I have beaten before. But to be realistic I have to get over 40 metres, and I am getting there now in training.

“I’ve got warm winter training for a week in April in Gran Canaria to help me get ready for the season, so everything seems to have moved up a gear now I have been selected for GB.

“Rio is definitely still the target. I’m hoping to improve my throwing and a podium place at the Paralympics is certainly within my reach.”

Despite shining under coach Malcolm Wallace last season, it has been all change for Dutton in 2015 after signing up for the tutelage of Caroline Price. Price is based in Windsor and despite this adding to Dutton’s mileage, the teenager is adamant a change of scenery will bring about even more success.

“I’ve got a new coach and focused my training so now it is a lot more of a full time thing, which definitely is making the difference,” Dutton added.

“I’ve had to move my training to Windsor as a result which means a lot more miles on the road, but I’m still competing as a member of St Albans. They have been very good to me in terms of incorporating me into the set-up with my disabilities, so I feel very loyal to them and will continue to compete for them.”

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