ACCORDING to coach Adrian Clover, Bratton athlete Hayden Bailey delivered a ‘Mo Farah-like' performance to win his first national title at the England Athletics Championships.

Running only his third 1500m in two years, the 14-year-old Matravers School student blew apart his rivals with a stunning performance in the U15s event to not only strike gold but also smash his personal best and soar to top of the UK Rankings.

“Hayden did a bit of a Mo Farah to be honest,” said Clover. “He sat at the front of the race and then took apart the other runners on the final lap. Even though they must have known he has been running really well at 800m this season, they let him dictate the race and played into his hands. He just controlled the race from the front and I think his last lap was around 60 seconds.”

It was Bailey's championship debut at the distance, having concentrated on the 800m this summer, finishing third at the English Schools’ and winning the Wiltshire and South West Schools’ titles.

“I think that was my best run of the summer,” said Bailey, whose last lap took him three seconds clear of the field.

“I was pleased with my bronze in the 800m at the English Schools’ but the weekend was better as I went there not expecting anything really as I was disqualified in my last 1500m (at the South West Inter Counties), which was annoying and meant I didn’t have a time.

“It was good to win and go top of the UK rankings.”

Semington’s Will Stockley notched up his fourth national medal of 2015 with a bronze medal in the U17 men’s 1500m steeplechase.

“I wasn’t disappointed with my run but neither was I overly pleased either,” said Stockley, who is a student at Melksham Oak School.

“I didn’t run the best race and let the eventual winner get away. I was then lying second until the last water jump but lost the silver on the run-in.

“It is good to win another national medal but it might have been better.”

Stockley’s tally this year now reads gold at the British Schools’ Championships, silver at the British Schools’ and now two bronzes from the weekend and in the 1500m at the England Indoor Championships in February.

“I have done five national races (also the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships) and got four medals so I cannot complain with that,” added Stockley.

Trowbridge's Caitlin Wosika finished fifth in the U17 women’s 1500m steeplechase.