A NORTH-EAST athlete dreaming of becoming the next Jessica Ennis-Hill has won multiple medals at an athletics event.

Kate Williams came away with four medals – two gold, a silver and a bronze – from the North Eastern Counties Indoor Athletics Championships at Gateshead International Stadium earlier this month.

The 12-year-old, who is a member of Darlington Harriers and Athletics Club, broke the club record as she sprinted to gold in the 60 metres, and narrowly missed out on a championship record in winning the high jump in the under-13s category.

Kate, who is a pupil at Staindrop Academy, also won silver in her preferred event of the long jump, and a bronze in the shot put.

The youngster is now hoping to surpass the achievements of her athletics-mad family, with her mother, Ruth Williams, once holding the British indoor record for the 200m, which she set when she was just 19.

“She has absolutely excelled, we are so proud of her and all that she has achieved,” said Mrs Williams.

“She had a really good weekend – I don’t think she realises how good she is, so this will give her a lot of confidence.”

Kate’s skills across multiple disciplines will give her confidence that one day she could emulate the success of Jessica Ennis-Hill, who won gold in the heptathlon in the London 2012 Olympics, and silver in Rio 2016, as well as being a world champion on three separate occasions.

“She will have to do the 800m for the heptathlon, and she doesn’t do much bend running at her age, but her goal is absolutely to be at the Olympics in Paris 2024.

“She did some training at junior school and in year six, she got the chance to compete against girls older than her.

“They go to a lot of league meetings and there is a good spirit and lots of camaraderie between them.

“The long jump has been her favourite event over the years, but she has had a growth spurt – her jumping is still really good but her timing on the board has gone.

“I think she was more pleased about her personal best in the 60m sprint. That puts her well up there in the country.”

Mrs Williams said Kate loved watching the Olympics in London and Rio, as well as last summer’s World Athletics Championships at the London Stadium, and she hopes her daughter can now get her hands on a Great Britain vest before she does.

“She loves watching Jess (Ennis-Hill) and Usain Bolt – she is full of personality just like him.

“She does well with her school work also – I think it is important to have a good academic background and be a great all-rounder.

“My mum loves athletics too – she watches it on the television all the time and follows the events.

“As soon as she got the scrapbook out of me competing, Kate was hooked.

“She plays netball, football, rugby, cricket – sport is just in her genes.”

Kate is now training for the Scottish Nationals, which will be held at the Commonwealth Arena in Glasgow on March 10, but she will also be competing in the North Eastern County pentathlon on March 1.

For more information on Darlington Harriers and Athletics Club, visit www.darlingtonharriers.co.uk or find them on Facebook.