Harry Coppell's joy as British record leap edges him up the world rankings

The 23-year-old cleared 5.85m at the Muller British Championships in Manchester on Friday.

He said: “It’s unbelievable. The result was good.

“When I was warming up I felt good, but when I did my outdoor PB was great and to get the record was amazing.

“I’m building my confidence all the time, it’s not been great coming out of lockdown but I’m just training hard.

“Hopefully I can make a few technical changes for next year, this has just motivated even more.”

His leap – in a Wigan Harriers vest – beat the previous best of 5.82m, set in 2012 by Steven Lewis.

And his final attempt clearance of 5.85m moved him to sixth in this year’s world rankings.

“The reason for 5.85m (instead of 5.84m) was because there is something significant in the world rankings in 5.85m. It felt like a marker and it has been a while since a British jumper has been near the top of the world rankings,” he added.

Coppell’s feat showed the lockdown has not stalled his remarkable progress.

Earlier this year he cleared 5.80m to qualify for the Olympics.

Elsewhere, Wigan Harrier Emily Borthwick won bronze in the high jump.

She cleared 1.77m, just 3cm behind Morgan Lake who won the event.

And Keely Hodgkinson was champion in the women’s 800m, finishing in 2:03.24.

At 18, she became the youngest winner at the event since 1974.

The Leigh athlete is coached by Wigan’s Trevor Painter, husband and former coach of Jenny Meadows.