GEMMA Shepherd ended her wait for English Schools Championships medal - but admitted it could so easily have been a different colour.

The 17-year-old Sheldon School student finally made the 1,500m podium after finishing fourth for the past two years, running a brilliant race to claim silver in Gateshead.

Shepherd, bravely led from the gun as she almost pulled off a memorable solo victory which is so rarely seen in championship finals.

She literally led for 1,499m of the race until Gemma Holloway of Essex lunged at the finish line to win by 0.05secs.

“It is good to finally get a medal but it was also a bit heartbreaking as I got pipped on the line,” said Shepherd.

“I had no idea the other girl was there. The annoying thing was that I finished quite fresh and feel I could have gone faster.

“But I am going to enjoy what I got and that is a medal and a PB so I am very happy.”

Will Stockley, from Semington, like Shepherd coached by Adrian Clover at Team Bath, smashed his personal best again to finish runner-up in the inter boys’ 1,500m steeplechase On his debut, 14-year-old Hayden Bailey, from Matravers School twice smashed his personal best on the way to third place in the junior boys’ 800m.

“Hayden Bailey set the stadium alight with his runs in the junior boys’ 800m heats and final,” said Wiltshire team manager Tim Whiting.

The county’s fourth medal was a bronze won by Ridgway School’s Gamuchirai Dumbutshena in the inter boys’ long jump.

Malmesbury School’s Zoe Wassell finished a fine sixth in the inter girls’ 3000m and there was also a sixth for Jake Nickerson of St Laurence School in the junior boys’ triple jump.

In her final appearance Devizes School’s Emily Hutchinson, who won a bronze last year, was seventh in the senior girls’ shot as were Matravers’ Ellie-J Webb in the senior hammer and Nick Rusinov of Marlborough College in the junior javelin.

Caitlin Wosika of the John of Gaunt finished eighth in the inter girls’ steeplechase with another gutsy performance.

Personal bests were set by both junior hurdlers Maksym Oberemok of St Laurence with 11.63secs and Sheldon’s Joseph Collins, who ran 11.00secs.

“We are very proud of our team and there was a fantastic spirit and camaraderie,” added Whiting.