ACCRINGTON runner Leigh Lennon was a golden girl at the Aviva England Athletics Indoor Championships.
Leigh, who has won silver medals at Under 15, Under 17 and Under 20 level in the past at the championships, was competing in the Under 20 800m and the 17-year-old celebrated her first gold winning comfortably in two minutes 11.88 seconds at Birmingham.
And there were two silver medals for Hyndburn runner Robbie Schofield and Rishton’s Sam Yates.
It was heartbreak for Schofield in the men’s Under 20 800m event as the 18-year-old lost out on the line by 0.19 of a second.
"It was agony for Robbie because he is a perfectionist and really wanted to win," said coach Don Lennon. "He had tracked the favourite Adam Cotton all the way and then was three metres ahead of him with 50m to go. But then Adam came back and Robbie threw himself over the line but Adam just got there first.
"But Robbie can’t complain. He got a personal best with 1.51.88 which is quicker than he has run outdoors. He smashed his best by two seconds. It is the first time he has won a medal at the national championships which is a big boost for him. He is just disappointed he didn’t get gold."
Rishton runner Sam Yates was also agonisingly close to being top man.
The Under 17 800m star celebrated a new personal best in 1.59.49 and was only four hundredths of a second outside adding a gold medal to his account.
"He has been outstanding," added Don. "He is ranked fourth in the country at his age group and has a big summer ahead of him."
And Don, Leigh’s dad, was impressed with his daughter’s show.
"It was a good run. She has competed at the Indoor Championships four times and got a silver each time so now she has stepped up and won a AAA’s National Championship.
"Leigh has now been selected to compete for England in the Celtic Cup this weekend in Cardiff."
