WILL Crisp might have claimed his best ever result at the English Schools’ Championships but the Swindon Harrier couldn’t help feeling it should have been better.

The 17-year-old from Hinton Parva, near Wanborough, won the silver medal in the senior boys’ 800m to add to the bronze he achieved as a junior in 2014.

No-one can argue that is not a superb achievement but such are Crisp’s high expectations that he has that nagging feeling that a gold medal was within his grasp.

“I have mixed feelings about the silver to be honest,” said Crisp. “I went there with a bit of a cold and got boxed in during the race and when I got free the winner was away and there was no way I was going to catch him.

“I am not going to say I would have won it but I felt I had more to give in that race.”

“But it is my first year as a senior so I will be back next year.”

Crisp, who is now studying for his A Levels at the Pates School in Cheltenham so was racing in the colours of Gloucestershire, was understandably confident after setting a personal best of one minutes 50.99 seconds the British Milers’ Grand Prix last month.

But as a sub 1:50 runner Ricky Lutakome, who is sixth in the UK Rankings for under 20 men compared to Crisp in 14th was always going to be a tough opponent.

so the Harrier shouldn’t feel too bad about his silver.

Representing Wiltshire Thomas Holmes, off St John’s School & Community College in Marlborough, celebrated his debut in the event with a magnificent gold medal in the junior boys’ javelin.

Holmes’s recent personal best of 53.93m in Finland, which lifted him to second in the UK Rankings for under 15 boys, signalled him as a genuine medal contender and he certainly didn’t falter as he produced another mighty throw of 53.42m to secure a superb victory.

Former Malmesbury School student Zoe Wassell took the bronze medal in the senior girls’ 3000m.

The 18-year-old’s medal is a shining example of the rewards that can come through persistence and hard work as this was her fourth and final attempt in the showcase event for young athletes.

Also representing Gloucestershire Gam Dumbutshena, who is a member of Swindon Harriers, finished ninth in the senior boys’ long jump clearing 6.35m.