BRITISH athletes in Tokyo are not the only Olympians who have been celebrating medal-winning performances recently, after an Oswestry runner put in a standout performance at a national event.

Former Corbet School pupil Liam Rawlings was one of the Shropshire successes bringing home a silver medal from the recent English Schools’ Athletics Association Championships held at Sports City in Manchester.

The former Oswestry Olympian runner, who is currently a Sixth Form student at the Thomas Telford School, has an outstanding record in cross country races having been county champion in his age groups no less than six times.

Covid restrictions meant that it was more difficult than ever to gain an invitation to compete in this three-day meeting.

However Liam, together with fellow Oswestry area athletes Aaron Warburton and Menna Pugsley, were selected to compete after being ranked in the top 16 in their respective events.

Aaron was selected to compete in the junior boys’ 800 metres after recording some impressive times in recent years.

The rapidly improving Menna completed the trio of Oswestry Olympians members with her selection for the junior girls’ 300 metres.

Liam has delivered some notable performances on the track in recent years, but his silver medal for second place in the senior boys 3,000 metres race was his first at the English Schools’ Championships is a standout achievement.

Oswestry Olympians Juniors long-serving coach, Tracy Bathers, was at the stadium as one of the Shropshire team managers on two of the days to witness the performances of youngsters she has coached from an early age.

With Oswestry not having its own track, all three athletes add to their training at the Shrewsbury track under the guidance of coaches Anne Thorpe and Colin Lancaster.