COLCHESTER and Tendring Athletic Club's Aidan Cahill claimed silver at the Essex Schools Track and Field Championships, in Chelmsford.

The talented middle distance athlete was second in the 1,500 metres final, having qualified for the final with ease (four minutes 34.9 seconds).

The final was a cagey affair with nobody willing to take it on, so it came down to a last lap burn up to the finish line.

With Cahill just missing out on gold, his CATs team-mate Jack Wharton, who is still in his first year of track racing, ran bravely to finish in 4m 41s, just outside his personal best (PB).

The boys' high jump saw Callum Cahill achieve 1.68m for sixth place.

In the sprints events, three CATs girls, all competing in their first Essex Schools event, did very well.

Amy Thompson earned herself a place in the 200m final with a run timed at 27.41s, clinching her third in her heat.

She then secured a creditable sixth in the final, with 27.71s.

In the junior girls 100m heats, Quiana Cole (13.29s) and Lola Whitley (13.82s) showed promise for the future.