Pendle AC’s Leah Hillman returned from the English Schools’ Championships in Birmingham at the weekend with a silver medal in the javelin.
Competing at the Alexander Stadium in the junior girls’ section - for Under 15s - Leah, representing Lancashire, threw 34.11m to finish second behind Somerset’s Laurie Dawkins, who won the event with 38.37m.
Leah’s throw edged Abby Gooderham of Norfolk into third with 33.65m.
Only four years ago, London 2012 Olympic hammer finalist Sophie Hitchon - formerly of Pendle AC - won the senior girls’ hammer at the ESAA National Championships.
The Championships are the fourth largest athletics event in the world, bringing together the best athletes in each county.
Leah’s performance continued her fine vein of form, as, last Wednesday, she broke the Pendle Schools’ Inter girls’ javelin record at Seedhill.
Leah’s victory was a highlight of a successful day for Park High School - pictured below - at the championships.
The boys dominated both the inter and junior competitions, running out winners in both, as well as claiming the overall boys trophy.
Meanwhile, the girls finished runners-up in junior girls, inter girls and overall girls competitions.
Park High was also crowned overall winner when scores from all competitions were combined, meaning they won four of the seven trophies on offer.
In addition to Leah’s javelin record, Joe Lonsdale broke the 200m record in the junior boys.