St Albans Athletics Club's Emily Hack celebrated winning the Under-17 300m at the South of England Athletics Association championship.

The Harpenden youngster was competing at Lee Valley and came away with a gold medal after qualifying through tough heats and semi-finals before winning the final.

Hack, who is a Year Seven pupil at St George's School in Harpenden, finished first after recording a time of 42.03.

The 15-year-old was fifth last August at the England Under-17 championships in Bedford. The athlete also competes for St Albans AC's relay team which is the fastest in the country for their age group.

Hack, who started competing in cross country and athletics from the age of nine, is coached by Tim Higman and Jake Awe. She is currently ranked third in the country for the Under-17 300m.

The teenager will move up to Under-20 level next year but her immediate challenge is at the end of next month when she will compete at the indoor nationals in Sheffield.