RORY Howorth admits that the England Athletics Combined Events Indoor Championships was never a big target this winter, so was shocked that he came away from Sheffield with a silver medal.

The Hilperton teenager produced a tremendous series of performances over the two-day event in South Yorkshire, notching up four outright personal bests, equalling a fifth, missing a sixth by one-one hundredth of a second as he finally stepped onto a national podium for the first time.

Moreover, Howorth’s total points score of 4,738 also lifted the St Augustine’s Catholic College student to sixth on the UK Indoor Under 17 men’s heptathlon lists – with the new champion Scott Brindley soaring straight to the top spot with his score of 5,096pts to underline the quality of the competition.

“I would say that is my best multi events performance so far and it was really exciting to win the silver medal and make the podium for a national event for the first time,” said Howorth.

“I also finished first English athlete (the winner was from Scotland) and won the gold medal for the Midland Championships, which was incorporated into the event.

“I am so happy to get five personal bests, including equalling one and I was only 0.01secs off my 60m best as well. I was really consistent and that was the key.”

Indeed, consistency is a key attribute to compiling a big score in the multi events and Howorth certainly delivered on that score.

In the long jump the Team Bath athlete equalled his lifetime best of 6.45m, which is also inside the qualifying standard for the English Schools’ Championships this summer, threw 13.29m in the shot, clocked times of 8.81secs in the 60m hurdles and 2mins 36.22secs in the 1000m and cleared 3.216m in the pole vault.

In the 60m sprint he ran 7.73secs and then cleared 1.77m in the high jump, which was only four centimetres off his outdoor best set last year.

“Overall it has been a really good indoor season for me,” added Howorth.

“I did the national championships just to see how I was progressing even though I haven’t trained specifically for many of the events. I wouldn’t say I went into it with my eyes shut but neither did I expect to get so many personal bests.

“It is all looking very promising for the summer season and hopefully I can win another England vest.”

Coach Julie Alexander added: “Rory had no expectations going into this event other than perhaps getting into the top five,” said Alexander.

“To make the podium was excellent but it also reinforced that his speed programme over the last two years has really started to pay off with the PB both in the hurdles and the 60m.

“The standard of both male and female multi eventers in the UK is incredible at the moment but ranking Rory No 2 in the UK and six on the All-Time list is a nice position to be in for the upcoming outdoor season.”