The Sussex Schools Under 17 girl’s team triumphed at the All England Schools Combined events championships at Derby.
In a nail biting finish the Sussex girls, who were third overnight, gave their all in the final event, the 800 metres to bring their total points score to 12,241 points just eight three points clear of the mighty Essex squad with Buckinghamshire a further eight hundred point away in third team place.
Ten years ago the Sussex senior girls team won the title but this is the only other time Sussex have won a team title at these championships.
Nicki Avery had a terrific second day leaping 5.19m in the long jump throwing the javelin 26.46m and running a brilliant 800 metres in 2:28.29 to finish in tenth place with 4209 points.
Kayley Alcorn followed her fine first day efforts with 5.09, 24.85m and 2:39.97 to gross 4122 points in 12th place while Bella Hailstone leapt 4.97m threw 25.43m and clocked 2:37.76 to notch up a personal best tally of 3910 points for 21st place.
The injured Laura Duke bravely battled on in case something happened to one of the other girls jumping 4.67m throwing 22.75m but then just taking a few strides in the 800 metres once she knew the other girls were okay.
Laura finished with 3028 points scoring zero for the 800 metres.
In the Under 19 Boys events Josh Mouland clashed with the competitor in the adjacent lane in the hurdles but he fought on to clock 16.53 he then threw 32.61m in the discus and was a little disappointed with a modest clearing, for him, of 3.10m in the pole vault.
In the javelin he reached 30.75m but when leading the1,500m he pulled up sick and dropped to the inside of the track. Although he recovered and completed the race he was disqualified, had he not left the track he would have been safe.
With a final total of 4687 he finished 29th out of the forty plus competitors.
In the Under 15 girls pentathlon Philippa Wilson finished 25th with 2496 points, a tremendous effort as she can compete in this age group again next year.
Philippa clocked 12.72 in the hurdles, putt the shot 7.23 high jumped 1.53m long jumped 4.36m and clocked 2:44.30 in the 800 metres.