A TEENAGE hammer thrower from Stockton produced an outstanding performance to win a major regional competition recently.

Sarah Morgan, representing the North East in the northern regional athletics competition at Shildon, threw a personal best 41.22m to take the under 18 event.

The 16-year-old, who is a student at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth sixth form college, was delighted with the result.

She said: "I was ecstatic considering I haven't trained since last July. I threw two personal bests and broke the 40-metre barrier for the first time."

Sarah, who is a member of Mandale Harriers, only took up the specialised discipline around three years ago after starting off as a shot putter.

She said: "I really enjoy it because it's the only event which suits me all round. But it's such a hard thing to master, so it's an on-going challenge.

"I want to go as far as I can with it and see what happens in the next few years."

Sarah has also played netball for the college, where she is studying for A levels in sport and PE, performing arts, theatre studies and general studies.