Three Carmel College athletes excelled themselves in the County Athletic championships held at the Riverside Sports Complex on Saturday.

Each achieved the national standard in their respective event and will now represent County Durham in the English Schools' Athletic championships to be held at Gateshead Stadium in July.

Josh Hardy, 14, won the junior shot competition with a throw of 12.35, a new personal best and school record. Daniel Ghundoo, 16, romped to success in the intermediate 100m hurdles in 12.2secs. The championships were then halted as athletes watched Phillip Collins raise the junior boys high jump record from 1.76m to 1.86m. His best is now only seven centimetres off the English Schools record.

A further 11 athletes from the Darlington schools have been selected for the Inter-Counties championship. From Carmel College Frances Nicholson (75m hurdles), Judith Grant (javelin), Phillipa Watson (discus) from Polam, Rachel Wattan (discus) from Hummersknott, Abbie Wilson (800m) and Ashley Snook (1500m) from Longfield, Kate Adamson (long jump), Chris Sheen (javelin) and from Queen Elizabeth College Julia Orr (3000m).

All of the athletes were a credit to Darlington and their respective schools.