WILL Stockley will make his debut for England at the British Schools’ Championships in Grangemough, Scotland, this weekend.

Representing Wiltshire, the 16-year-old Melksham Oak student from Semington, near Trowbridge, smashed his personal best again to finish runner-up in the inter boys’ 1,500m steeplechase and secure his place in the England team.

“The first thing I thought when I crossed the line is that I had won my first England vest,” said Stockley.

“That means such a lot as I have been working really hard.”

Stockley also revealed that he nearly didn’t race after being sick in the team hotel on the eve of the race.

“My dad said I shouldn’t run as I didn’t feel too good but I felt a bit better in the morning and I was determined to give it a go,” added Stockley.

“It went alright in the end although I was a little annoyed I didn’t win but overall I have to be happy.”

Stockley wasn’t the only happy Wiltshire athlete at the two-day event in the north-east. The biggest smile of the weekend probably came from Gemma Shepherd as the 17-year-old Sheldon student finally made the podium after finishing fourth for the past two years.

Shepherd ran a brilliant race, bravely reading from the gun as she almost pulled off a memorable solo victory which is so rarely seen in championship finals.

“It is good to finally get a medal but it was also a bit heartbreaking as I got pipped on the line,” said Shepherd.

“I had no idea the other girl was there.”

Shepherd led for 1,499m of the race until Gemma Holloway of Essex lunged at the finish line to win by 0.05 seconds.

“The annoying thing was that I finished quite fresh and feel I could have gone faster,” added Shepherd.

“But I am going to enjoy what I got and that is a medal and a PB so I am very happy.”

Both Stockley and Shepherd are coached by Adrian Clover at Team Bath as is Hayden Bailey. On his English Schools’ debut the 14-year-old Matravers runner also raised his game to new heights as he twice smashed his personal best, first breaking two minutes in the heats of the junior boys’ 800m with 1:59.74 and then improving to 1:57.81 for third in the final.

“Hayden Bailey set the stadium alight with his runs in the junior boys’ 800m heats and final,” said Wiltshire team manager Tim Whiting.

Such was the quality of the race that the three medallists all ran PBs and moved to first, second and third in the UK U15 rankings.

The county’s fourth medal was a bronze won by Ridgway School’s Gamuchirai Dumbutshena in the inter boys’ long jump.

Malmesbury School’s Zoe Wassell finished a fine sixth in the inter girls’ 3,000m and there was also a sixth for Jake Nickerson of St Laurence in the junior boys’ triple jump.

In her final appearance Devizes School’s Emily Hutchinson, who won a bronze last year, was seventh in the senior girls’ shot as were Matravers’ Ellie-J Webb in the senior hammer and Nick Rusinov of Marlborough College in the junior javelin.

Caitlin Wosika of the John of Gaunt finished eighth in the inter girls’ steeplechase with another gutsy performance.

Personal bests were set by both junior hurdlers Maksym Oberemok of St Laurence with 11.63 seconds and Sheldon’s Joseph Collins, who ran 11.00.

“We are very proud of our team and there was a fantastic spirit and camaraderie,” added Whiting.