Cambridge & Coleridge’s George Keen scoops gold at the England Under-15/Under-17 Championships

George Keen scooped a gold medal at the England Athletics Under-15/Under-17 Championships.

And there was a bronze medal for Cambridge & Coleridge team-mate Isaac Rothwell in the same race.

The duo had progressed through the heats of the under-17 men’s 1,500m on the first day of competition at the Manchester International Arena to reach Sunday’s final, which had shaped up to be an open event with plenty of contenders for the title.

There were half a dozen athletes still in contention for the gold at the bell, but as the pace started to pick up on the back straight, Keen kicked clear to win in 3min 56.81sec.

“From the start, I decided to sit in, out of the wind,” he said. “I watched what was going on ahead and decided to go with 70 metres to go.”

Gateshead Harriers’ Joshua Blevins was second in 3.57.31, and Rothwell was a fraction behind, taking the bronze medal in 3.57.65.

C&C’s Paul Lambrecht narrowly missed the podium in the under-15 boys’ 300m.

Sutton & District’s Noah Ridgeon crossed the line first in 36.78, and Lambrecht finished in 38.40 for fourth place, as City of Plymouth’s Nicholas Maczugowski was third in 37.40.

C&C’s Ellie Loosley was also denied a spot on the podium.

She finished fourth in the under-17 women’s 3,000m in 10.01.34, with Vale Royal’s Holly Weedall claiming the bronze medal in 9.58.88. Leven Valley’s Jess Bailey took the gold medal.