BASILDON AC’s Gemma Kersey won a gold medal at the UK Intercounties Championships – and is now looking forward to a year when she will concentrate on nothing but running.

The 23-year-old has spent the past three years juggling a fashion degree with trying to be one of the country’s top middle-distance runners.

But with her studies now out of the way, Kersey is looking forward to seeing just how far she can take her running.

“I want to just concentrate on my running for the next year,” Kersey said. “I want to carry on with fashion on the side, but just as a hobby for now. Running is going to be my main focus.

“If that means getting a job which is not exactly what I want to do, but lets me leave early for races and things like that, then that’s what I’ll do.

“I want to re-invent myself again. I have such a good base, I just need to build on it.”

Kersey’s form is certainly heading in the right direction since she wrapped up her degree earlier this summer.

And the win at the Intercounties, where she had to run the heat just two hours before the final, confirmed that.

“I have been getting back to my best,” said Kersey who won her heat in 4m 25.18s and then won the final in 4m 23.73s.

“I finished and was like ‘wow, I’m still an athlete, I can still do this.

“My mindset has completely changed.

“I feel totally different. My confidence has returned and I’m enjoying my event again.

“There was a point earlier in the season where I wasn’t enjoying racing the 1,500m. I preferred racing the 800m, but I love it again now.”

Kersey plans to have a solid winter season racing on the country and even has one eye on stepping up the distances on the track to the 5,000m.

“I’m racing my first 5k on the track at Solihull later this month,” she said.

“Who knows, that might suit me better. I haven’t got that change of pace that others have. My strength is my strength and that showed last weekend with the two back-to-back 1,500m races.

“Overall, I’m excited and looking forward to what I can do in the next year.

“For the first time I will be focusing on athletics every day. I feel like I’m starting afresh.”

ESSEX WIN INTERCOUNTIES TITLE...AGAIN

ESSEX’S senior men, managed by Southend AC’s Keith Palmer, became the UK Champions for the third year running at the UK Intercounties Championships in Bedford.

They finished the number one county ahead of some 48 other counties across England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

The women were third ensuring Essex of the overall combined title for the fourth consecutive year.

As well as Gemma Kersey’s gold medal, there was plenty more success for local athletes.

Kersey’s training partner Adam Hickey won a silver in the 5,000m after a rapid final lap which saw him finish in 14m 26.93s.

Stanford-le-Hope’s Hayley McLean won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles with a time of 58.48s, just outside her season’s best while Benfleet’s Matt Hamilton won a silver medal in the P2 400m in 54.99s.

As well as Hickey, two other Southend AC athletes competed for their county.

Kevin Brown showed a promising return to form with 13.99m in the triple jump for eighth.

Lee Dollard ran in the 200m clocking 22.93 but could not make it out of his heat.