RORY Howorth finally brought an end to his long track season with a hard-earned silver medal at the British Schools’ Combined Events International in Glasgow.

The 16-year-old Hilperton athlete earned his call-up for the England team after winning the English Schools’ octathlon title back in September.

With the international event not taking place until November, it is not surprisingly switched to indoors with the impressive Emirates Arena in Glasgow staging the event.

A family visit in the Lake District helped break up the long journey north but even with that rest, Howorth admitted he felt sluggish and just a bit rusty after returning to the track for the first time in many weeks so was delighted, if not a little surprised, to make the podium.

“It was an interesting competition that did not go as planned initially so I was quite surprised to come away with an individual silver,” said Howorth, who is a student at St Augustine’s Catholic College.

“Going up to Scotland I was excited about the competition but once it started my legs would just not respond and there was no energy there at all.

“It was all a bit of a shock.”

Howorth opened with a ‘sluggish’ 60m hurdles time of 8.83secs and followed that with a below-par throw of 11.87m in the shot.

“Next was the 200m which I knew would be hard as I am not a natural sprinter so I was really happy to run a personal best time of 23.38secs,” added Howorth.

“In the long jump I cleared 6.44m which was okay and brought me up to seventh place overall going into the 800m, which was the last event of the competition.

“While I wasn’t thinking of an individual medal I knew the team had a chance of winning so I knew I had to run as quick as possible so gave it my all.”

Indeed despite tired legs Howorth scorched to an indoor best of 1mins 59.67secs – only three other athletes got under 2ins 10secs – for a huge score of 775pts.

“I was pleased with that run but I had no idea until the official score sheets came out later that I had done enough to move up to second place overall which was a massive shock,” explained Howorth.

“And to make it even better England also got second in the team competition as well. So while it wasn’t the best day I have ever had it showed that I can still produce a decent performance.

“I am taking a lot of positives out of the weekend for the future but for now I am taking a break before I start my winter training because it has been a long season – but overall a very good one.”