TWO talented sprint siblings have taken Colchester & Tendring Athletics Club by storm.

Lexden’s Emmanuel and Joy Ogunleye are both celebrating a fantastic season for CAT’s, which has seen them rocket up the UK rankings.

The speedy duo, who are both pupils at St Benedict’s Catholic School in Colchester, have dominated the Eastern Young Athletes League and East Anglian League sprint events.

Joy, 13, is currently riding high in the UK top 10 in both the 100 metres and 200m and is the Eastern Region’s leading under-13 female sprinter.

And her older brother Emmanuel, 14, has established himself as one of the leading top-50 boys in the UK, for both the 100m and 200m.

CAT’s chairman Warren Page said: “Their performances have been one of the highlights of the season for us.

“They’re awesome to see when they’re in action and it’s exciting to have them at our club.

“The youngsters we have thrive on success and when they see it happening around them, it can only serve to inspire them.

“Joy and Emmanuel are very grounded and down to earth and they get lots of support from their parents, who are always there for them.”

The Ogunleyes have only been taking part in athletics since 2011 but are already carving out a promising reputation for themselves in the sport.

Joy, who will compete at under-15 level next year, triumphed at the English Schools Championships 100m race in June. She is ranked sixth in the under-13 girls 200m and seventh in the under-13 girls 100m in the UK rankings.

Joy’s coach Ian Kelly: “I’ve been a coach at the club for the last 11 or 12 years and Joy’s up there with the very best that I’ve coached – I hope there’s more to come.

“Joy’s been exceptional this year.

“She’s smashed her personal bests in both the 100m and 200m and won the English Schools Championships at 100m with a new championship record in June.

“She was also undefeated in both the East Anglian League and Eastern Young Athletes League in both the 100m and 200m, as well as earning her Essex vest.

“Joy’s a great competitor and has been a joy to coach but she’s also very modest and works hard.

“She’s put the work in and when you do that, the results will come.”

Parents Josh and Tonia are understandably proud of what Joy and Emmanuel have achieved in 2013.

Josh said: “I can’t really express my joy at how they’ve done.

“Their progress in a short space of time has been amazing and they’ve really taken the athletics to their hearts.

“Both of them have great ambition to higher and it’s really great to see them both do so well.

“They get on well but there’s also a healthy rivalry between them, too. “They’re both moving up next year and that’s the next challenge for them, because with that will come higher expectations.”

Tonia added: “They’ve both embraced the athletics – their coaches and the club have been very supportive. “They’ve come out of nowhere really but they’ve put a lot of hours into it.”