AN ANDOVER based athletics star made an impressive international debut for England last weekend as she scooped gold in the Schools International Athletic Board International Games.

Holly Mills, of Andover Athletics Club, claimed the top spot in the long jump category, beating fellow England team mate Eleanor Broome to the top spot with a lifetime best of 6.26 meters.

The international match, held at the Grangemouth Stadium in Scotland last Saturday, brings together the best athletes from Great Britain and has previously played host to athletes such as Olympic champion Mo Farah and and Paula Radcliffe.

Mills was selected for this match following a disappointing second place at the English Schools Championships in Gateshead, in which she was beaten to the gold by team mate Broome.

Conditions in Scotland were far from ideal with a strong, gusty wind and far from summery temperatures making things difficult for the long jumpers.

Mills and Broome started with ‘no jumps’ in the first round but both quickly recovered.

Mills made her first mark in round two jumping to 6.06 meters but Broome followed this with a lifetime best of 6.15 meters to take an early lead.

Neither girl improved in the third round but Mills then jumped a new personal best of 6.23 meters in round four while Broome jumped 6.09 meters.

Mills then followed this with a new lifetime best jump in round five, leaping out to an impressive 6.26 meters to clinch the gold medal.

Broome was unable to improve her distance but her 6.09 meters was still enough to secure silver.

This was Holly’s first experience of an international competition and to come away with the gold medal was magnificent.

In addition to this Holly also picked up a special gold medal award for achieving the best overall performance by an English female athlete at the competition.