TEENAGER Harry Woods smashed his personal best in the first 3,000m of the summer season at the British Milers Club PB Classic, held at Millfield School in Somerset.

The Swindon Harrier slashed 25 seconds off the time he set last year as he clocked 9mins 38.83secs to finish seventh in the C race.

Coach Kevin Buttle said: “Harry has enjoyed a really good cross-country campaign over the winter, finishing third in the Oxford League U17s age group.

“I think that gave him a good platform and he was also very focused for the 3,000m on Saturday – he just got everything right on the evening, which was excellent for running.”

There were nine further PBs from the large group of Harriers middle-distance runners that headed to Somerset for the traditional season opener.

The event saw PBs for Ben McIntyre (2:01.02), Matthew Smith (2:04.56), Harrison Black (2:27.46), Jack Latus (4:14.50) and Jack Gunning (4:45.61).

One of the best wins of the night came from teenager Archie Pierce in the 800m. Following pacemaker, and Harriers training partner, Nyle Clinton through 400m, Pierce timed his effort to perfection to clinch an impressive triumph in the D race.

Not to be outdone, older brother Ethan notched up a PB of 4:10.91 in the 1,500m A race.

A LARGE contingent of Harriers headed to Cheltenham for the Brewer Games at the Prince of Wales Stadium, and teenager Amy Warre made her mark with a personal best of 5.06m in the long jump in addition to victory in the U15 girls’ 75m hurdles.

John and Harry Ricketts also impressed in the hammer, while there were PBs for sprinters Kelly-Marie Marsh, Beth Davidse and Lauren Pawson in the U15 girls’ 300m.

But arguably the best performance of the day came from Highworth Running Club’s England Schools’ international Kiya Dee in the 3,000m.

In her first race of the outdoor season Dee smashed her PB by 26 seconds with a sparkling time of 10mins 17.9secs to go second in the UK rankings for U15 girls.