Superb Williams lands European silver on her Great Britain track debut
Northampton runner Emily Williams claimed a superb silver medal on her Great Britain track debut in the girls' 1500m at the European Athletics Under-18 Championships in Gyor in Hungary.
Northampton School for Girls pupil Williams, who runs for Kettering Town Harriers, was earning her first full GB & Northern Ireland vest.
She showed brilliant composure to take second place in a race dominated by Ireland’s Sarah Healey.
Williams, who qualified with ease in the heats earlier in the weekend, ran a controlled race, striding away to take the silver.
As the pace picked up over the final lap, a gap opened for the top three and the Northampton athlete managed to hold her form in the closing stages.
Afterwards, Williams said: “Oh my gosh, it sounds unbelievable (to be a European U18 silver medallist).
“I’ve mixed between the 1500m and 800m all season and I think my speed really helped me in the final part of the race.
“I was nervous – but I could see that three of us had moved away from the others.
“The pace picked up with 200m to go and I knew I had to go with it because I really wanted a medal.”