A RISING Andover athletics star has been selected to represent Great Britain in the first ever European Youth Championships.

U17 athlete Holly Mills was chosen alongside 32 other young British athletes to take part in the inaugural European Youth Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, next month.

The Andover Athletics Club starlet said: “I am over the moon to have been selected to represent my country at what will be my first major international championships.

“I’m really looking forward to what will be a great experience for me in my pursuit to become a top international athlete.

“A big thanks to my coach James Coney, who has helped me achieve my first international call-up.”

The call-up came after a remarkable 10 days for Mills, who showed her long jump pedigree at two prestigious national events.

The first was the England Athletics U20 Outdoor Championships, held at Bedford International Stadium.

Despite being an U17 athlete, Mills went into the competition having recorded longer jumps than most of her competitors.

Mills started well with a jump of 6.11m to tie her with U20 athlete Eleanor Broome.

The Andover athlete took a slight lead with a jump of 6.12m in round four but Broome soon took the lead with a 6.15m.

Neither could improve in the next round and with Mills fouling in her final jump, Broome snatched the gold with a 6.21m winning jump.

A few days later Holly received an invitation to compete at the British Championships, held last week at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

The event, Mills’ biggest to date, included appearances from senior athletes looking to gain selection for the Rio Olympics.

Normally athletes from the U20 age group and older are invited but in exceptional circumstances U18 athletes meeting certain criteria are given the opportunity to compete.

Although conditions were not ideal Mills produced a display, with five of her six jumps beyond the 6m mark.

A first round 5.71m was followed by 6.09m in round two and 6.23m in round three.

Further jumps of 6.07m, 6.20m and 6.04m in the final three rounds earned Mills a hardearned bronze medal.

It was a proud moment for Mills, who took her place on the podium to receive her medal alongside Olympic athletes Shara Proctor and Jazmin Sawyers.