HAZEL Robson picked up her first medal of the IPC World Athletics Championships in New Zealand, helping Great Britain scoop bronze in the 4x100m relay.

The 31-year-old narrowly missed out on the podium in the T36 200m, finishing fourth, on Sunday but showed no signs of fatigue as she returned for the T35-38 sprint relay.

Robson joined forces with Bethany Woodward, Katrina Hart and Jenny McLoughlin, running the opening leg as Britain finished third, narrowly ahead of Germany.

Despite Robson’s good start they were one place outside the medals with 100m to go, only for McLoughlin to chase down Claudia Nicoleitzik and help claim bronze in 58.33s.

“It was a really good race and I am so pleased,” said Robson – a multiple Paralympic and world medalist.

“I tried to forget about the 200m from the night before and I wanted to get the team off to a good start so I ran the first leg like the clappers.

“I managed to get the baton through to Beth without any problems and I got off to a really good start which was pleasing.

“I do enjoy doing the relay because we don’t get the chance to do it that often.

Where I train has the facilities to do a bit of work with the batons. But I haven’t done any training with the girls out here before so that makes it even better to win bronze.”

Ukraine scooped gold in a new world record of 55.07seconds, with silver medalists Russia trailing by nearly half a second and Robson and co less than four more behind.

Meanwhile, Jade Jones might be in her first senior event at the IPC World Championships but the teenager proved she belongs with the older heads after qualifying for today’s T54 800m final.

Originally listed as a straight final, 15-year-old Jones was forced to try and qualify for the showpiece, with nine competitors arriving and only eight being able to compete for medals.

But the New Markse Harrier brushed off any nerves and recorded a time of 1:59.92minutes – good enough to secure the eighth and final spot in the final.

Although her time in New Zealand was more than two seconds off her PB, set in Switzerland in June, there was no hiding the delight of Jones in reaching the final despite the anxious wait.

“It was a good race, really quick, but I am here for experience and I am just glad to have made the team,’’ she said. “But it is good to get in the final, you always want to do well, and I did think at one point that I hadn’t done enough to get into the final.”

􀁧 Aviva has been supporting British athletes since 1999. To find out more about Aviva’s athletics sponsorship, go to aviva.co.uk/athletics