ADAM BOWDEN has been crowned the new English Schools 2,000 metres steeplechase champion after winning the title at Sheffield on Saturday.

The West Herts College student produced a magnificent performance which culminated in a sprint around the last lap to clock 5.58.21 to win a tactical race.

The 17 year old, from north Watford, beat a high quality field to take the championship in a pulsating race.

He edged last year's steeplechase champion Jermaine Mays by just one metre after a desperate battle in the final straight.

The bronze medallist was Mark Griffiths, reversing the positions from two years ago when Griffiths took gold and Bowden won bronze.

The current leader in the United Kingdom rankings, Richard Williams, was relegated to fourth place.

Bowden is coached by Tony Bush at Harrow Athletic Club and he has improved dramatically during the past 12 months.

A talented all-round sportsman, he has given up football and reduced his swimming to focus on athletics training with impressive results.

He took bronze in the English Schools cross country championships in March and smashed the championship best in the Hertfordshire Schools event in June with his club record of 5.53.1.

Queens' Dennis Fenemore had problems with his run up, but still placed ninth in the Under-17 triple jump with 13.17.

Harrow Athletic Club also had four other athletes in the top six, including the Under-15 high jump champion Ricardo Prevost who leapt the magnificent height of 1.90.

Bowden was part of a highly successful Hertfordshire team which produced five English Schools champions, two silver medallists and one bronze medallist.

St Clement Danes' Carly Robson was one of the success stories - collecting a fantastic silver in the Under-17 triple jump with a leap of 11.83m.

There was also a bronze medal for Howard Gale, of St Clement Danes, with a height of 1.78m in the Under-15 high jump.

Other local athletes producing good performances were Angela Barratt, of Watford Grammar, who earned fourth place in the Under-15 long jump with 5.23m, and West Herts College's Jill Christie, who ran the Under-20 3,000m in a time of 10.09 to finish sixth.

High jump bronze medallist Howard Gale, of St Clement Danes School.

Carly Robson finished second.

Bowden storms to win

Steeplechase champion Adam Bowden (no. 37) negotiates the water jump on Saturday .

Pictures KEITH MAYHEW

ADAM BOWDEN produced a magnificent performance to win the English Schools 2,000 metres steeplechase title at Sheffield on Saturday.

The West Herts College student stormed around the last lap to clock 5.58.21 to win a tactical race.

The 17 year old, from north Watford, beat a high quality field to take the championship in a pulsating race.

He edged last year's steeplechase champion Jermaine Mays by just one metre after a desperate battle in the final straight.

The bronze medallist was Mark Griffiths, reversing the positions from two years ago when Griffiths took gold and Bowden won bronze.

The current leader in the United Kingdom rankings, Richard Williams, was relegated to fourth place.

Bowden is coached by Tony Bush at Harrow Athletic Club and he has improved dramatically during the past 12 months.

A talented all-round sportsman, he has given up football and reduced his swimming to focus on athletics training with impressive results.

He took bronze in the English Schools cross country championships in March and smashed the championship best in the Hertfordshire Schools event in June with his club record of 5.53.1.

Queens' Dennis Fenemore had problems with his run up, but still placed ninth in the Under-17 triple jump with 13.17.

Harrow Athletic Club also had four other athletes in the top six, including the Under-15 high jump champion Ricardo Prevost who leapt the magnificent height of 1.90.

Bowden was part of a highly successful Hertfordshire team which produced five English Schools champions, two silver medalists and one bronze medalist.

St Clement Danes' Carly Robson was one of the success stories - collecting a fantastic silver in the Under-17 triple jump with a leap of 11.83m.

There was also a bronze medal for Howard Gale, of St Clement Danes, with a height of 1.78m in the Under-15 high jump.

Other local athletes producing good performances were Angela Barratt, of Watford Grammar, who earned fourth place in the Under-15 long jump with 5.23m, and West Herts College's Jill Christie, who ran the Under-20 3,000m in a time of 10.09 to finish sixth.