Invicta East Kent’s Bobby Clay joined some exalted company as she once again demonstrated her huge potential with a incredible display in the under-15 800m at the English National Championships in Bedford.

Clay, 14, beat American Stacey Zartler’s 30-year championship record of 2min08.91sec in 2.08.75 – a time which is now the fourth-fastest ever under-15 time in the UK and comfortably the best by an Invicta East Kent AC female, smashing the 2.11.1 set by over-20 Elizabeth Parncutt back in 1968.

Notably, Commonwealth champions Kirsty Wade (800m) and Lisa Dobriskey (1,500) are down in 27th and 35th places on the all-time list. The UK’s best-ever under-15 mark of 2.06.5 was set by Rachel Hughes of Fleet & Crookham in 1982.

Clay (pictured), who arrived in Bedford as this year’s Kent champion, Kent Schools champion, English Schools national champion and regional champion, stated her intent for more glory with a winning heat time of 2.12.67 – itself the fifth fastest in the UK this year.

Second in the heat was Cornwall’s Molly Long, who went on to win silver in the final which was contested by the five top under-15 girls in the country.

But Clay stayed with the fast pack for the first 500m, then switched on the afterburners, making her rivals sprint the last 300m to win by 10m.