WEYMOUTH athlete Jemma Tewkesbury scored a memorable success on Saturday with a bronze medal in the inter- schools javelin at the prestigious ESAA Sainsbury's Track and Field Championships in Birmingham.
Cheered on by a vocal crowd at the Alexander Stadium and watched by a Sky Sports audience, the 16-year-old Dorch-ester Athletics Club member threw 39.01m.
Tewkesbury said: "That was okay but I would have preferred to have won.
"I'm throwing mid-30 metres in training so I hope to be regularly over 42m by the end of the season."
The championships are the pinnacle of the English Schools sporting calendar, with former winners including Dame Kelly Holmes, Jessica Ennis, Paula Radcliffe, Denise Lewis and Jonathan Edwards.
In the build up to the championships, another former winner Daley Thompson has been hosting a series of Sainsbury's Futures coaching seminars for some of those taking part.
And the double Olympic champion was in Birmingham to offer his ongoing support to the youngsters.
He said: "This is my second year involved with Sainsbury's and the English Schools and I love coming to watch the championships.
"Jemma is certainly one of those who impressed this weekend. It all bodes well for the future of athletics in this country up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond."
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