DENISE FARNHAM defied stamina-sapping conditions to win a silver medal at the 15th World Masters’ Athletics Championships in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Farnham, from Sturry, near Canterbury, led for much of the women’s 45-50 years’ 1500m only to overhauled in the final 300 metres.

She crossed the line in 5minutes 2seconds, just four seconds behind her Mexican rival, whose familiarity with the humid conditions probably gave her the edge.

The medal was Farnham’s first in the championships, and she was delighted, having set herself a pre-event target of a top six finish.

The gap between her and the third-placed runner, a Puerto Rican, was 33 seconds.

Farnham, who runs for Medway and Maidstone, explained: “I was leading on the first three laps but the Mexican girl just had that edge in the final 300 memtres.

“It was definitely the humidity that got me even though I’d been out there a week to acclimatise.

“I’d also tried one or little things at home like training on the treadmill without the air conditioning on.”

Farnham was sponsored on the trip by Canterbury car dealers Barretts, and also received unexpected financial backing from members at the King’s School Recreation Centre where she takes fitness classes.

“I was so grateful to everybody who gave me money. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to go,” she explained.

Farnham’s latest medal caps a highly successful period for the athlete who won gold over 1500m in the European Indoor Veterans’ Championships in San Sebastian, Spain, in March.

She had earlier won 1500m and 3,000m titles at the GB Masters’ Indoor Track Championships and outdoors is the reigning county senior women’s 5,000m champion.

Farnham is also prospering on the biathle circuit, leading the inaugural grand prix standings for her age group after wins in each of the opening two events.

The next grand prix in the event, which incorporates a swim sandwiched between two runs, is in Birmingham in early August.

She has also set her sights on competing at the World Biathle Championships in Monaco in September.