Scoulls success

Sanders, who has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of Sally Gunnell, showed her class winning gold in the 400 metre hurdles at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium on Saturday.

The teenager, who completed her A levels at The Amersham School earlier in the week, held off her nearest rival from the West Midlands to take the tape.

She took the lead on the final bend and powered home to win in 61.6 seconds retaining the title she won last year.

Beaconsfield High student Nicole McDermott also went home with a medal in her kitbag after her first national schools championship.

She ran the lead leg in the Bucks team which came third in the 4x100m relay. She also finished seventh in the 100m.

McDermott's coach, Mark Ackland said: 'Our target for the season was to reach the English Schools Championships, everything else has been a bonus.

'We knew going into the championships that Buckinghamshire had a potentially good relay team but all of this exceeded our expectations. To achieve a medal was amazing and there's no doubt this team is capable of a gold medal in the future. I'm delighted for Nicole.'

But Chiltern Harrier Gemma Turtle's medal hopes ended when she was boxed in during the under-15 1500m final and had to settle for sixth place.

But her club had big success to cheer elsewhere.

Jackie Leak went north of the border to represent England in the Anglo-Celtic Plate 100km race at Edinburgh University and won it in nine hours, nine seconds to earn herself the British title and automatic qualification for the European Championships which take place later this year.

The Startrack athletics scheme, which encourages youngsters to enjoy sport, gets underway at the Wycombe Sports Centre on July 24.

The £35 per week Monday to Thursday courses include training in all the major track and field events with expert coaches including Wycombe's international coach Alan Hewson.

Anyone wanting more information on the courses, which run from July 24 to August 24, should contact him on (0799) 071 0667.