Kim Wall continued her great season on the track by capturing bronze and gold medals for Great Britain in the European Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy.

After winning her heat of the women's 400 metres in 54.21 secs on Thursday, Kim took third place in Friday's final by taking half-a-second off her previous best with a time of 53.52 secs.

Kim's fellow countrywoman Lisa Miller took two-tenths of a second off her previous best with silver medal position and 53.29 secs after capturing runners-up spot in her heat.

The gold medal went to Russia's Tatiana Firova, who clocked 52.94.

Kim later helped the British 4x400m relay squad scoop gold in a time of 3:34:63.

The medals were a fine reward for Kim, who collected a gold relay medal for Britain in the 4x400m at the World Juniors last year.

Kim's glory was in marked contrast to the disappointment of her Basildon Athletic Club colleague Darryl Stone, who failed to get through the qualifying stages in the men's high jump.

Stone, a King John College student who lives in Thundersley, like Kim, went to Italy having picked up gold in the English Schools Championships in Exeter a fortnight previously.

He made the trip to Grosseto knowing that he would probably have to jump around his personal best mark of 2.14m - achieved in a Southern Men's League match a few weeks ago - to make the final.

But he could only clear 2.00m and subsequently was knocked out at Thursday's opening stage.

Both Kim and Darryl will be looking for further British glory next weekend when they travel across the Channel to compete in an under-19 international against France.

They will be joined by another Basildon AC member - Ellie Childs - who runs the 800m and then joins Kim for the 4 x 400m relay.

Also in action in France are the Thurrock Harriers' duo of Louise Matthews, the Southend High javelin thrower who lives in Billericay and tasted silver glory for Essex in the English Schools, and 110m hurdler Ross Tressider.

Meanwhile, Louise's Southend High colleague, sprinter Katie Flaherty, is in Murcia, Spain, until Friday competing in the European Youth Olympics. The Games started yesterday.

Basildon AC's Somma Power came third in the shot put with a personal best of 12.13m at a schools international in Ireland.

The Southend High pupil returned home yesterday (Sunday).

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