Erika Kelly won a bronze medal in the women’s 3,000 metre race walk at the British Indoor Track and Field Championships in Sheffield on Sunday.

The Northern AC walker actually placed fourth in the race, but as Tatyana Gabellone, who was third, is an Italian national, Kelly was elevated to third in a lifetime best time of 14min 18.64sec in her first indoor race - a senior Manx record.

Pre-race favourite Heather Lewis was disqualified.

Hannah Hunter of Manx Harriers started strongly and never faltered, gaining her a great sixth place (eighth over the line, with a Hungarian walker directly in front) and another huge personal best of 14m 35.41s.

Both women will now concentrate their efforts on the Manx Harriers Open 20km event on Saturday week.

Tom Partington unfortunately suffered his first disqualification in the latter stages of the under-20 men’s 5,000m walk, in which Tom Bosworth shattered the British record with 18m 39.47s, setting a world lead time for the event this year.

Partington, currently based in Leeds, was also in line for a personal best when, 600 metres from the end, he was shown a red paddle. He was one of three walkers to be disqualified from the same race.

Tom’s attention now turns to his next major event, a 10km race in Coventry on March 10.

Olivia Curran competed in the senior women’s pole vault on Saturday and managed a fine season’s best of 3.81 metres, giving her seventh place.

She now vaults in London under the watchful eye of Ellie Spain and has made a great comeback after a potentially career-ending ankle injury.

Young Manx Harrier, Ben Sinclair, competed in the Scottish Indoor championships at the weekend, winning a bronze medal in the under-13 boys’ high jump with a personal best height of 1.32 metres.

He was fourth in the 200m sprint final with a pb of 28.55 seconds in what was his maiden indoor appearance and first national event.

The next UK event on the athletics calendar is the Birmingham Games this Sunday, which will see up 20 of the island’s top young athletes competing. A round-up of results will be featured next week.

5,000m win for

Ollie lockley in usa

Further afield in America, Ollie Lockley set a new indoor personal best in the Fayetteville 5,000 metre invitational.

He won his race in a time of 14min 33.23sec.