YOUNG sprinter Owen Richardson maintained his strong start to the season by winning a silver medal in the under-17 400 metres at the English Indoor Championships.

The teenager travelled to Sheffield a day after winning the Junior Men Award at the Basingstoke and Deane Sports Awards and impressed throughout the competition, despite only recently moving up from competing at 300m.

He won his heat in 50.58sec, before progressing to the final by finishing second in his semi, clocking 50.28sec. However, he saved his best for the finale, recording a personal best of 49.35sec to win the silver medal.

There was even better news for The Clere School pupil Holly Mills. The Andover Athletic Club member won the under-15 long jump, leaping 5.47m in the final round to win by 9cm.

Owen Richardson’s elder brother, Myles, also made the long trip north, competing in both the under-20 60m and 200m. He finished third in his heat of the 60m, clocking 7.16sec, but was unable to progress beyond the semi-finals, finishing sixth in 7.19sec.

It was a similar story in the 200m. Richardson made it through to the semi-finals by finishing fourth in his heat, clocking 22.75sec, but was unable to reach the final, finishing fifth in his semi-final in 23.05sec.

Another Basingstoke athlete, Elizabeth Butler-Clack, competed in the under-17 60m but was unable to progress beyond the heats, coming home fifth in 8.24sec.