Global gold for athletics ace Grace

Grace Baker won a gold medal at the World Schools Cross-Country Championships.

The Hastings-based young athlete was part of the England squad which won the team gold medal in Malta last week, finishing well clear of runners-up Australia and third-placed Spain.

It was the first medal-winning performance by any England team in the 20-year history of the competition and it meant Baker ended her winter season on a high.

The 16-year-old Rye College student, who came 11th in the individual standings, is taking a week’s rest before starting training for the rapidly approaching track season.