Tom Bedford, of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, ran a superbly-judged race to win the senior boys' 2,000m steeplechase in 5min 4.1sec at the English Schools' Championships in Nottingham on Saturday.

Representing Hertfordshire, Bedford was among the early pacemakers, dropped back, but hit the front again approaching the water jump and led over the last hurdle for a win.

It was a proud moment for Dave Bedford, the former world 10,000m record-holder, who presented his son with his gold medal.

Adam Charlton was another winner for Shaftesbury, in the senior boys' 400m in 48.18sec.

Shaftesbury's Cherie Pierre, running for Bucks, went close in the senior girls' 200m, but was pipped on the line in 24.89sec.

Victoria Webster (Herts) improved her personal best by a massive 22 seconds on her way to silver in the senior girls' 3,000m in 9min 44.89sec.

Other silver medallists were Gemma Turtle (Bucks) in the Intermediate girls' 3,000m in 9min 41.94sec); Marilyn Okoro (Bucks) in the senior 400m in 56.14sec; and Jamahl Alert-Khan (Middlesex) in the intermediate boys' 200m in 21.77sec. Jamahl was second in the junior grade last year.

Nathan Martin (Middlesex) took third place in the senior 100m, and Daniel Russell (Edgware School) came fourth in the intermediate boys' 1500m steeplechase in 4min 29.84sec, ahead of Sam Hall (Ashmole School), who was seventh.

Alex Hodkinson (Herts) was fifth in the senior boys' 1500m and Lindsay Barr (Friern Barnet County) was fifth in the junior girls' 800m. Steven Marlow was sixth in the senior discus with a throw of 42.39sec.

Shaftesbury's Sarah Waldronsuffered a cruel blow when she was barged off the track in the early stages of her 1500m heat and eliminated.

July 17, 2002 19:00