Phillipa zooms to a brilliant bronze as reputation soars

Philippa Lowe in action in the women's 400m hurdles final at the British Championships last year. Picture (c) Gary Mitchell

Phillipa, who is still only 23, and in her first year of teaching at Hemel Hempstead School, is now beginning to get her name known at the elite level of athletics: before the final, the commentator predicted that she would finish third.

Phillipa started the weekend with a PB of 54.18 seconds, set on an outside track last year; her PB for the 400m indoors was 54.6 seconds.

She was probably seeded to finish second in her heat, but she ran with such determination that she dominated the group, and came home first in a new PB of 54.17 seconds.

Philly Lowe in action. Picture (c) Gary Mitchell

Going into the final, Phillipa had the third-fastest time, but knew that some of the other runners may have been holding back in the heat.

She also knew that she was probably going to have to run another PB time to win a medal.

The first lap was extremely fast, and Phillipa was in fourth position at the bell, but she ran superbly down the back straight, and moved into third position coming into the home straight.

She managed to hold onto this position as she dipped over the finish line, lowering her PB again to a remarkable 53.61 seconds.

Phillipa trains on the track at Jarman Park, and in the weights room of the Dacorum Sports Centre.

Her main event is 400m hurdles. This season, she is aiming to lower her national ranking (9th in 2015) and her PB for the hurdles (58.5s). These targets appear to be well within her reach.