GEMMA Holloway says winning a silver medal at the English Schools Cross-Country Championships has proved she is on the right track for a top running career.

The 17-year-old, from Grays, had the best result of her career in Blackburn on Saturday when she finished second in the senior girls race, leading her Essex team to gold too. It caps an impressive winter for the Palmer’s College student who has recorded top 10 finishes in the English Championships and UK Intercounties Championships.

On top of that, she has been identified by the country’s top cross-country scouts and is likely to receive international call-ups in the near future.

All of this has made Holloway even more determined to carve out a long career in running.

“I was really happy with winning a silver medal,” said Holloway, a Thurrock Harrier.

“I was a bit disappointed straight afterwards because I thought I could have won the race but now I have thought about it I’m happy with the silver.

“It has made me even more determined to be successful. I know I’m close and knowing selectors have been watching is good.

“I’m still eligible to run in the under-20 age group next year and that should give me a real chance.”

Although Holloway will be able to compete in the under-20 age group she will no longer be eligible for the English Schools Championships and she said it was good to sign off in style in Blackburn.

“It was my last one so it was good to win an individual silver and lead the team to gold.

“We’ve won the team event for a few years now so it was nice to keep that going.”

Holloway was one of four Harriers representing Essex in the North West.

Amber Pullinger had an exellent run in the junior girls race to finish in 89th spot, just ahead of training partner Hayley Instance in 125th.

Jack Exley was 238th in the junior boys race.

Elsewhere, there was a fantastic performance at the England under-15 indoor multi-event championships in Sheffield from William Adeyeye.

The young Harrier won a silver medal with a personal best total of 2,925 points in the pentathlon.

It could have been even better for the William Edwards School pupil who was leading going into the fifth and final event, but the 800m proved a bridge too far for Adeyeye who slipped down to second.

l Thurrock Harriers’ Victoria Peacock indicated her training for the London Marathon is on course in Sunday’s Essex 20, in which she recorded 2h 43m 49s for the distance. She finished 20th in the county championships.