ALEX Thompson produced a fine performance to win a bronze medal in Saturday's English Schools Athletic Championships.

The 14-year-old Ermysted's student ran a tactical and energy-preserving performance to qualify for the junior boys 1,500m final in a slow-paced heat at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

The final proved to be a tough race and he was at the front of the pack when the bell sounded for the final lap.

Thompson started to pull away and a win looked possible until the bend at the 200m mark where he was caught by two rivals.

The Steeton athlete clung on to take third place in a new personal best and English standards time of 4.16.25mins.

His reward on the day was the lead out his county in the final parade.

He is now looking forward to the rest of this and his next season in athletics.

Thompson was joined at the championships by two more of Craven's talented young athletes Alice Jones and Sebastienna Bairstow from Skipton Girls High School.

The trio have worked hard this season, through qualifying rounds and additional track events across the country, in order to qualify for this prestigious event.

Qualifying for the championships is an honour as they were competing against the best young talent that England has to offer.

It is the fourth largest athletics event in the world and certainly the biggest schools’ event in Europe.

However, the hard graft was not yet over as they had to compete in heats in order to reach the finals on day two.

Bairstow ran a tough heat in the junior girls’ 800m event but unfortunately did not make it to the finals.

Jones, from Lothersdale, ran a very technical and measured heat in the junior girls’ 1,500m race to qualify for the final where she finished ninth.

In addition, she gained a new personal best time and English Standards time of 4:44:71.

After the races she said she was very pleased with her performance and is positive about the future of her track running.