COLCHESTER'S Lyla Belshaw is celebrating after winning the TCS Mini London Marathon.

The talented 15-year-old crossed the line first to become under-15 girls' champion, at the event.

Lyla sped around the 2.6km course in a fine time of 8m 26s, to claim one of her greatest-ever wins.

Representing the East of England, she led from start to finish and kicked on at the end to take the tape by a clear margin, on The Mall.

The Colchester Harriers runner, who is coached by Dave Smith, was delighted to claim a notable victory in the capital.

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She said: "With a kilometre to go I was looking back and didn't see anyone gaining, so I just went for it.

"I saw my grandad on the side shouting for me too and that motivated me a bit.

"Isla McGowan and Holly Cross were just behind me. Usually I get beaten by them but maybe I'm a bit better on the road than cross country."

Over the years, the Mini London Marathon has launched the careers of international athletics stars including Laura Muir, Keely Hodgkinson and Josh Kerr.

Sir Mo Farah, who took part in his final London Marathon at the weekend, won the Mini Marathon three times.

Paralympic medallists Hannah Cockroft and Kare Adenegan are also both former Mini Marathon winners, along with Paralympic gold medallist David Weir – who has won the London Marathon a record eight times – and two-time London Marathon winner, Shelly Woods.

This year it was Lyla's turn to sweep to gold.

The Colchester County High School for Girls pupil was accepted into Harriers in 2019, when she won the ISA National Schools Cross Country.

After finishing sixth last October and eighth the previous year, Lyla was only hoping for a top-five position but she surprised herself by winning the under-15 girls' title.