ZOE Mattacks can look forward to a strong second half of the track season after receiving a huge confidence boost by winning her first England vest, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 18-year-old from Southwick celebrated the end of her A level exams at John of Gaunt School with selection for the England Athletics Midlands U20s team at the Welsh Athletics International in Cardiff last week.

Based upon her rankings in the South West/Midlands and her recent results in the Midland Championships, where she made two finals running entry standards in the 100m, Mattacks was chosen to run the short sprint against teams from England South, Wales U20 and a Welsh Schools team.

She finished sixth overall and second junior clocking a time of 13.92secs into a headwind, compared to her personal best last month of 12.38secs to win the senior girls’ title at the South West Schools’ Championships.

She said: "I was really happy to be selected especially after the disappointment of the English Schools’ Championships, which didn’t go as well as I wanted,” said Mattacks.

“A foot injury flared up in the middle of the race and I was quite upset as it was my last appearance in the event. Luckily I had the England selection so I was able to move on quickly and put the schools’ race behind me.”

Devizes School student Will Scammell raced to an excellent victory in the U15 boys’ 300m to help Team Bath AC win promotion to the Premier Division South West in the Youth Development League Lower Age Group for 2018.

In a thrilling competition Team Bath clinched promotion by finishing third overall, edging out local rivals Bristol & West AC by 17 points for the final promotion spot.

Scammell clocked a personal best of 38.7secs to claim maximum points for the team and then came runner-up in the long jump with 5.56m and in the shot with 10.97m.

Also claiming maximum points in the U15s age group were Alex Parsons in the 1500m (4mins 31.4secs), Peter Adeosun in the high jump (1.65m) and Ellie Mount in the 75 m hurdles (11.9secs).

Important win were also claimed in U15 B events by Tabitha Gallen in the 75m hurdles (12.0secs), Filip Oczko in the 100m (12.5secs), Mount in the 100m (13.3secs) and Sophie Martin in the high jump (1.45m).

The U13 athletes also played their part and there were wins for Charlie Staddon in the 75 m hurdles (14.5secs) and Clemmie Gallen in the 1200m (4:13.3).

Second places in A events went to Adeosun (80m hurdles, 11.8secs), Eleanor Webster (U15s 800m, 2:24.3) and Dylan Stoneman (U13s 1500m, 5:03.9).

The final meeting of the league campaign was a promotion match at Swindon which saw the top two teams from each Division One and the bottom three teams from the Premier Division compete, with the top three teams going into the Premier Division next year.

“It was a great performance,” said team manager John Webster, who lives in the village of Alderton, near Mamesbury.

“I am very proud of the team for securing third place in such a competitive match against such strong opposition.

“Although we had previously won our league with ease to qualify for this match, we knew it was going to be a very tough proposition to finish in the top three in the play-off match and we were not surprised by the quality of the opposition we faced.

“The team acquitted itself really well and there were man fantastic performances. All our athletes were a credit to the team and club and deserved this success.”

Overall results: 1 Cardiff AC 595 points; 2 Cheltenham & County Harriers 539; 3 Team Bath AC 508; 4 Bristol & West AC 491; 5 North Somerset AC 462; 6 Swindon Harriers 460; 7 South Wales. 403.