Current St Mary’s University, Twickenham students Jade Spencer-Smith and Bijan Bayati recently took home medals after they competed at the BUCS Nationals in Sheffield.
The BUCS Nationals are an annual multisport event for top athletes and sports players at universities and colleges around the UK. This year the event took place in Sheffield from Friday 23rd February to Sunday 25th February.
Jade came first place in the women’s pole vault at the BUCS Indoor Athletics event, jumping 4.13m to get the Gold. Jade is a pole vaulter for GB, as well as a sport scholar at St Mary’s.
Bijan competed in two categories for karate at the BUCS Nationals, taking home the Silver medal in the Men’s Intermediate Kata category.
Speaking on this achievement, Bijan said, “After two and a half years of inactivity in Karate competitions, competing at the BUCS Nationals was a big challenge. Competing against top athletes was the perfect way for me to get back to a competitive level and I’m definitely planning to participate in more Karate competitions on a national scale this year. I’m very proud to represent St Mary’s at the BUCS Nationals.”
Jade added, “It was a highly enjoyable competition and my last indoor BUCS, so I was very happy to take the win in the St Mary’s vest.”
St Mary’s University is internationally renowned for sport, offering degrees in physiology, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, sport psychology, nutrition, coaching science, and strength and conditioning.
The University has established links with national sporting organisations including Fulham FC, Chelsea FC Foundation, Harlequin RFC, and London Gymnastics.