KELLY College athlete Danni Barnes took the 1,500 metres title at the English Schools AA Championships held in Sheffield last weekend.
In her semi-final on Friday, the teenager did enough to qualify for the final when she ran with the pack for the first 1,200 metres. With the bell the pace quickened, Danni ran a devastating 300 metre burst to open up a ten metre lead. Although the pack began to close up the finishing straight, she held on to win the national title with a second to spare over the second-placed athlete.
Another Kelly student Leyna Hird also ran a time close to her personal best in the Intermediate Girls 300 metres hurdles, narrowly missing a place in the semi-finals.
The Nationals return to Exeter in July 2001 (they were last held there in 1998) so athletes throughout the county will have the opportunity to run in front of their own supporters next year.