A BOURNEMOUTH college is urging the whole community to get behind a student who is set to make his debut on the world stage of athletics.

Avonbourne Trust is sponsoring sixth former and long jumper Patrick Sylla as he prepares to propel himself into the international limelight in the World Junior Athletics Championships in Poland.

And the Trust is urging the whole of Bournemouth to get behind Patrick as he embarks on a path that could lead to the Olympics.

CEO of Avonbourne Trust, Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, said: “We have watched Patrick with immense pride ever since he took up the long jump and athletics when he was a 13 year-old at Harewood College.

“Now studying A-levels at Avonbourne Sixth Form, Patrick has broken record after record and is now moving up to the next level of junior international tournaments.

“At just 17 he has qualified for the World Juniors where he will be pitting himself against the very best young athletes in the world.

“We want to do all we can to help him succeed and we would love to hear from any local businesses or organisations that would like to back this very talented young man.”

Patrick currently holds the record UK jump for his age – an impressive 7.61m, which is longer than the width of a football goal. He is also the UK Schools’ U17 champion.

Now he leaves behind the youth competitions for the much tougher junior rounds where he will be competing against men up to three years older than him.

He flies out to Poland on Sunday for his first junior internationals.

“I’m honoured to be representing Great Britain at the World Juniors,” Patrick said.

“I will be one of the youngest there because in this country you move up to juniors when you are 17 but in other countries it is 18.

“So my main aim is to qualify for the finals and that would just be amazing.”

As well as being a highly talented athlete Patrick is also an academic star.

He combines his regular training at Bournemouth Athletics Club with studying for three A-levels in Economics, English Literature and PE.

The IAAF World U20 Championships will be held in Bydgoszcz, Poland from Tuesday, July 19 to Sunday, July 24.