Podium place for track ace Grace

The 15-year-old Rye College pupil won bronze in the women’s 3,000m at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games in Sheffield last weekend.

Baker was up against hot competition from the National and English Schools 3,000m champion and the under-18 1,500m European champion so an inflamed ankle from an insect bite was all she needed.

Despite restricted movement in her ankle, she ran a good race to finish third in 10:15.48 - some 29 seconds outside her personal best.

The Hastings-based athlete will now start her preparations for the forthcoming cross-country season where she hopes to earn another England call-up.

Although the ambitious young runner has an eye on a place in the under-20 Great Britain team for the European Championships in Slovenia, this is a tough ask and would be a huge achievement. But such ambition is key if she is to make the transition from top junior to elite senior.