Bolton United Harrier Hannah Kelly has moved up in distance with stunning success.

In only her fourth outdoor 400m race, she stormed home to win gold in the U23 women’s final at the England Athletics Track and Field Championship at Bedford in a time of 54.04s.

This is a title formerly held by Christine Ohuruogu who is still the record holder to this day.

Kelly said: “Originally this year we had planned to focus on 200m and had been focusing on speed endurance for the event.

“We decided to change to 400m a few weeks ago after I competed in the event at a senior league match.

“The speed endurance work we have been doing transferred well to the 400m and I felt I now had the strength for this event.

“In the heat, the goal was just to win and qualify for the final. I went off a bit faster than planned I think due to nerves and excitement and had enough lead in the 100m to slow down.

“For the final, I wanted to execute my race plan a bit better and run a more controlled race. I managed to do this and stay strong at the finish to win and run a new PB of 54.04.”

Kelly then took to the track in the 400m at the British Championships at the weekend, finishing sixth in her heat in 54.99.