BARNSLEY runners Maya Schofield and Vanessa Ndambakuwa won golds in the under 18 age group at the Northern Track and Field Championships in Hull.

They have both qualified for the English Championships in late July and could also compete in the English Schools Championships earlier in the month.

Maya won the 800m in 2-13.69.

The 16-year-old from Royston was almost four seconds clear of the rest of the field. She said: “I was really happy with the win in windy conditions.”

Barnsley AC’s Vanessa, the 17-year-old sprinter from Grimethorpe, took the title over 200m. She won by just under half a second with a time of 24.92.

Vanessa’s coach Joe Ferguson said: “It was her best performance of the season.

“It wasn’t a season’s best because she ran into a big headwind. The conditions were atrocious. When conditions are good, she’s going to run really quick.

“She has the English Schools trials on Saturday then we will look towards them and also English Championships in late July which will be the biggest test for her so far.

“She basically destroyed the north of England and there was no real competition for her.

“The nationals will be more of a test but the goal will be to stand on the national podium.”

Barnsley AC’s Amelie Spicer was sixth in the 400m with a PB of 59.97.

Meanwhile, Graihagh Turner, from Penistone, represented Great Britain in the European Off-Road Running Championships in Slovenia.

She was 36th out of 54 in the under 20 women’s ‘up and down mountain race’ with a time of 33-39.

Graihagh said: “Although the result was not quite what I had hoped for, competing on the European stage was an amazing experience and another significant step in my running career.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement.”