YATE Athletics Club teenager Isabelle Walkey could be a star of the future after winning two national 100m sprint titles.
Issy, aged 16, has just sat her GCSEs at Winterbourne Academy and represented the school and Team Avon at the 93rd English Schools Athletics Track and Field Championships at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham in July.
One of more than 1,700 athletes competing, Issy won her heat convincingly before taking the under-17s women’s title in the final, with a time of 12.07 seconds.
She then took part in her first international competition, representing England at the Schools International Athletics Board (SIAB) event at Camarthen, where she won a silver medal competing against athletes from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Issy then returned to Birmingham for the England Athletics U17 championships, winning the 100m final in a personal best time of 11.79 seconds to become national champion.
Mum Claire said Issy’s time puts her second in the UK and first in England for her age group.
Issy, who lives in Emersons Green, is coached by Sandra Woodman at Yate Athletics Club.
She hopes to continue her development at SGS College, where she plans to study sport at the WISE campus in Filton from September.
Issy said: “I have thought about my future in athletics – however, as I am still young I just want to carry on enjoying it and take each season as it comes.”