Gainsborough teen takes bronze in national championships

Gainsborough teenager Heather Cooke brought home a bronze medal from the fourth biggest athletics event in the world.

The hurdler ran for Lincolnshire in the English Schools Athletics Association’s National Championships, at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

Cooke’s performance in the 300m hurdles saw her win her heat with a personal best time of 44.44 seconds.

The Queen Elizabeth’s High School student went on to win a bronze in the final, with another personal best of 43.76.

She was only beaten by 100th of a second from second place, but had to settle for third and had her medal presented by British record holder Derek Redmond.

Scunthorpe and District Athletics Club runner Cooke has one year left in the Under 17 intermediate age group and is already ranked third in England and fifth in Britain.

The 15-year-old told the Standard of her delight that her training with coach Dave Harmes paid off.