Southend's Katie Flaherty will be aiming to bring a glorious schools' athletic career to a golden end in Gateshead over the next two days.

Going for gold - Southend's Great Britain 400m runner Katie Flaherty Picture: ANNA LUKALA

Katie, who leaves Southend High School for Girls at the end of the current term, has a fabulous record at the English Schools Track and Field Championships.

Yet that elusive first place has consistently eluded her and that's something she'll be aiming to change when this year's competition is staged in the North-East tomorrow and Saturday.

Katie started her sprint to glory as a year eight pupil when she finished second to Natalie Street in the Essex Schools' junior girls 200 metres and achieved the same position behind Amy Spencer, now a top name in the world of athletics on the national scene.

That success led to an indoor international 300m which Katie won to be on the UK all time list for her age group.

The next year, as a year nine, Katie was fourth in the English School's 200 but she was back on the medal trail the following season as a year 10. She finished third in the English Schools and, as a result, was selected for the Junior European Olympics in Murcia, Spain, where she finished seventh and helped the relay squad to runners-up spot.

In year 11 Katie was honoured with the captaincy of the Essex Junior girls team and finished second in the 200m in the English Schools and attained the same position for England in the Home Schools' International.

In 2003, as a year 12, Katie, a member of Basildon AC, finished third in the 200m at the English Schools and by now had been awarded the captaincy of the senior County girls' team.

Having now stepped up to 400 metres, Katie has this term been chosen for the Great Britain under-20 international team and was a member of their 4 x 400 relay squad and finished third in a 400 invitation in a time of 56.1.

Published Thursday July 8, 2004

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