PERSISTENCE paid off as Grace Copeland claimed a bronze medal at the English Schools’ Track & Field Championship.

The Wimborne-based distance runner reached the podium at her fifth attempt, claiming the senior girls’ 3,000m bronze with a personal best 9:44.11 at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

She secured Dorset’s only medal as the county finished 11th of 13 in Division Three.

Copeland was also invited to parade in the England vest she gained running the World Schools’ Cross-Country Championship in April.

Cameron Hale threw a career best 57.04m for fourth in the senior boys’ javelin, while Charlotte Ayton finished fifth in the senior girls’ long jump with her best mark of 5.59m.

Danielle Broom, Madeleine Johnson, Amelia Verney and Adam Phillips each achieved sixth places.

Dorset senior boys' results at English Schools’ Track & Field Championship – 100m: 4 heat 3 Robinson Okumu (11.22). 800m: 5 heat 1 Jed Skilton (1:57.76). Javelin: 4 Cameron Hale (57.04) (pb).

Intermediate boys' 400m hurdles: 3 heat 2 Adam Booth (Hampshire) (13.81). Long jump: 9 Logan Page (6.42) (pb). Discus: 6 Adam Phillips (43.25).

Junior boys' 200m: 6 heat 4 Finlay Ridout (23.93). 300m: 7 heat 2 Daniel Sanchez (38.44) (pb), 7 heat 3 Liam Nixon (38.31). 800m: 6 heat 2 Josh Smith (2:06.28). 4x100m: 6 heat 2 Dorset (48.65). Triple jump: 21 Ben Butcher (10.23m).

Senior girls' 3,000m: 3 Grace Copeland (9:44.11) (pb). 100m hurdles: 5 heat 1 Olivia Galloway (15.13). 400m hurdles: 8 heat 3 Bethan Burley (68.21). Long jump: 5 Charlotte Ayton (5.59m) (pb). Discus: 6 Danielle Broom (39.13m).

Intermediate girls' 200m: 6 sf 2 Brooke Ironside (25.77). 1500m: 6 Madeleine Johnson (4:38.05) (heat 4:37.14). 80m hurdles: 4 heat 2 Yasmin Bridet (11.96). 300m hurdles: 4 heat 1 Olivia Willmore (45.08) (pb), 3 heat 2 Abbie Lovering (44.73) (pb). 4x100m: 4 heat 3 Dorset (50.35). Triple jump: 14 Fleur Mansell (10.46m). Shot: 15 Freya Cutler (10.86m). Hammer: 7 Abbie White (52.16) (pb). Javelin: 19 Imogen Davis (33.09).

Junior girls' 200m: 6 Amelia Verney (25.64) (heat 25.50). 800m: 7 heat 2 Daisy Baker (2:22.65). 1500m: 11 heat 1 Ashia Wilson (4:52.27).

(pb denotes personal best performance)