HOT prospect Patrick Sylla has smashed the national under-17 men’s long jump record.

The 15-year-old LeAF sporting academy student recorded a jump of 6.93 metres at the Southern Counties indoor competition at Lee Valley.

It was the first time the record had been broken for 10 years.

Sylla, competing in his first event since August, also won gold in the triple jump (13.44 metres).

The Bournemouth Athletic Club star doesn’t turn 16 until November and will be competing against 17-year-olds this season.

Sylla is the current Southern Counties, Dorset schools and county champion at both long and triple jumps.

Coach Zac Kerin is delighted with Sylla’s start to the year and expects his protégé to break the seven-metre mark this season.

Kerin is an ex-English Schools triple jump gold medallist and still holds the Essex record.

He is also a member of UK Athletics and was mentored by Peter Stanley, the coach of world triple jump record holder Jonathan Edwards.

Sylla and Kerin were part of a Bournemouth Athletic Club group that met London 2012 long jump gold medallist Greg Rutherford last month, as part of their winter training.