ALISON Leonard has won the women’s 1500 metres at the British Universities and Colleges Championships.

The Birmingham University student, from Chorley, was taking part in her first competition of the track season but safely negotiated a heat and a semi final on successive days.

Running at Bedford, the 21-year-old Blackburn Harrier won the final with more than a second in hand over her closest rival Josephine Moultrie from Strathclyde clocking 4:26.86 to move to 16th in the early season ‘Power of 10’ National Rankings list.

A busy Alison later joined Dame Kelly Holmes at the latest ‘On Camp with Kelly’ and ‘Future Stars with Kelly’ Aviva-sponsored Get-Together at the University of Birmingham to enjoy an action-packed day of training and workshops designed to prepare for their arduous season ahead.

Alison said: “I wasn’t able to stay for much of the day but really enjoyed the track session – it was really good to be timed and joined by Dame Kelly for the last 50m of each 300m repetition, and to see the other girls.”