Ashford School’s Grace Nicholls posted a personal best to secure the bronze medal in the English Schools’ championships in Sheffield.

The Romney Marsh athlete, who this season joined Tonbridge AC, went under 10 minutes for the first time to take third in the 3,000m at the Don Valley Stadium.

Now an experienced finalist at English Schools after her eighth last year in the 1500m, she moved back to 3000m after concentrating on 800m and 1500m for the last two years.

Grace clocked 9:43.32 with a superb run to join Ashford AC javelin thrower Matt Blandford on the podium after his bronze in the junior boys’ event.

Another athlete with huge potential, Blandford was down on his best with 46.51m having thrown 49m this season.

But it was another good performance against top competition and he is currently ranked No.4 in the country.

Ashford AC’s Dwyte Smith, the national intermediate boys’ schools long jump champion last season, moved up to senior boys this year and narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth with 6.90m.

The Romney Marsh athlete is still ranked No.2 Under-20 in the country after his 7.24m jump in February.