POOLE Athletic Club’s Melissa Courtney produced a storming run to take bronze in the women’s 1500m at the Commonwealth Games.

Competing in her first Commonwealths final, the Wales star recorded a huge personal best of 4:03.44 at Carrara Stadium to finish behind champion Caster Semenya and silver medallist Beatrice Chepkoech.

Courtney told the BBC: "In the past two races I've done, I've raced really smart.

"I focused on myself and didn't think about the rest of the race. I had no idea what the pace was, I just knew I had to keep going forwards."

South Africa’s Semenya was a comfortable winner, making her move with 300m to go and triumphing in a Games record of 4:00.71 seconds.

She beat Kenyan Chepkoech by almost three seconds and will now eye the 800m title.

Courtney, 24, has represented Poole AC for half her lifetime.

Her coach Mark Pauley said: "Millie went to the next level today."

The former Talbot Heath and Parkstone Grammar pupil is also set to compete in the 5,000m.