Joe Kent has set his sights on being the best of British less than two years after stumbling upon the fact he was a natural at the high jump.

Kent soared to a new Sussex under-17 record of 2.04m at the County Championships at the weekend to climb to second in the UK rankings.

The 16-year-old's jump was better than any of the seniors managed at the K2 Centre and was the fifth best of all-time in any age group in the county.

The leap added three centimetres to his personal best and the Horsham Blue Star Harrier came within a whisker of equalling Tom Vanhinisberg's senior record set in 1997 when he narrowly failed at 2.07m. Kent's clearance was also 35 centimetres better than he managed in the English Schools Championships in 2006 and highlights his rapid improvement since taking up the event.

Kent said: "I was never really interested in any sports until I tried the high jump at school two years ago and discovered I was pretty good at it.

"I was shocked because I had no interest in athletics but my teacher (Chris Iddles) entered me into a competition which I did pretty well at and it went from there really.

"At first I was only turning up and jumping but now I have started training properly and the results are getting better all the time. I really enjoy it and I was incredibly proud with how I performed at the weekend.

"It was my first outdoor competition of the season and I've already achieved what I set out to this season so I've got to readjust my targets a bit now.

"I'd love to break the Sussex record and get to No.1 in the UK for my age group and if I keep improving the way I am then I have a good chance."