Local Athlete New British Champion

Alice Hopkins, a 26-year-old athlete from Thame, has been crowned the new British women’s long jump champion. Alice secured the title with a season’s best leap of 6.59 metres during the British Indoor Athletics Championships held in Birmingham on Saturday 22 February.

Alice has also been selected as part of the Great Britain Squad for the European Indoor Championships to be held in Apeldoorn, Netherlands from 6-9 March.

Barley Hill’s Champ

Hopkins’ journey in athletics began at Barley Hill Primary School, where her talent was first recognised during a year six sports day. 

In 2018, she clinched gold in the Under-23 National Championships for the long jump and triumphed in the Senior South of England Heptathlon Championship.

The following year, Alice retained her Under-23 national long jump title and represented Great Britain at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Gävle, Sweden, finishing seventh in the long jump.

Alice made her Great Britain debut at the Indoor Combined Events International Match in Cardiff in January 2019, where she finished sixth in the senior pentathlon with a personal best of 4,080 points. That same year she collected a Thame Town Award for her Sporting Achievements.

In 2024, Alice achieved a personal best long jump of 6.72 metres.

Alice’s victory at the British Indoor Athletics Championships marks her first national title.  She is a dedicated member of the Oxford City Athletics Club and works at the Meadowcroft Care Home in Thame when she’s not training/competing.