Wingham’s Bobby Clay says she ran with plenty of freedom at the England under-20 Championships in Bedford last Sunday because her A-levels were behind her.

And so it proved were her rivals after she won the 1,500m final in 4.16.30, finishing four seconds ahead of those chasing the Invicta East Kent AC star.

But it wasn’t only the race Clay, 18, who had finished her exams just two days before the meeting, won.

Her victory earned her selection into the Great Britain team for European Junior Championships in Sweden next month. No wonder Clay said she was loving life.

Clay said: “It felt so good to race without having all the stress of my exams to think about. I felt free and was able to enjoy myself.

“And to get selected to go to Sweden, somewhere I have never been either, was the icing on the cake.

“I am super excited about being selected – it is such an honour to represent GB. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

But Clay, who smashed her 1,500m best by more than three seconds after clocking 4.12.20 to win the A race at the British Milers Club Grand Prix at Sports City in Manchester earlier this month, isn’t setting any targets for Sweden.

She said: “No target means no pressure and that’s the way I always approach my
races. I race how I race and what happens at the end of it happens.

“The important thing is I remain happy and enjoy every race I run. I am living the dream and loving every minute of it.”