Steve Lewis took just one attempt to qualify for Friday night's pole vault final. Pic: PA Wire

The Newham & Essex Beagle cleared 5.50m at first attempt to sail into Olympic final.

Newham & Essex Beagles Steve Lewis just needed one jump to qualify for the pole vault final.

The new British record holder, cleared 5.50m at the first attempt in this morning’s qualifying stages, to confirm his spot in the final, which takes place on Friday, and begins at 7pm.

The 26-year-old broke that 14-year national record at the end of July in a meeting in Poland and moved him amongst the medal contenders for the Olympics with the fifth highest jump in the world this year.

And after sailing through the qualification stages, the Dan Pfaff trained athlete will be hoping the home crowd can get behind him and lift him into the medals.