Golden girl Lara Carty has rounded off her year of astonishing success by shattering her personal best on her international debut - to help England win the home countries pentathlon championships in Scotland.

The Basildon 14-year-old, who showed grit and steady nerves to finish fourth out of 16 in the individual event, said: "Representing my country was very exciting, but I was trying not to think about it so I could concentrate.

"I was hoping to do as well as I have done this year, but I've had to work very hard for it."

Lara, of Basildon's De La Salle School, has won five other major titles in 1998 - the Southern Counties' indoor and outdoor high jumps and the pentathlon, as well as the Essex County title at high jump and pentathlon.

The Basildon Athletic Club all-rounder can take part in the heptathlon next year - which has two extra events - and is already aiming to win a place in the England side at this more gruelling discipline.

Her outstanding pentathlon display, against the other home nations at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, included a leap of 5.27 metres in the long jump and a 60 hurdles' time of 9.38secs.

She equalled her best ever high jump performance, with 1.63m, putt the shot 7.88m, and recorded 2mins 35secs in the 800m.

Her points total of 3,254 was comfortably beyond her previous best of 2,972.

Lara Carty - broke her personal best at home countries pentathlon championships

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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