IT was a day where budding athletes attempted to run faster and jump further than their rivals at the annual Blackburn Primary Schools Athletics Championships which were once again held at Witton Park.

And for one young pupil, is was a day where she jumped further than anybody else had done so before.

Feniscowles Primary School student, Gayathri Suresh, entered the Year Five/Six standing triple jump and ended the day as a winner and a record breaker.

Not not just any old record breaker though as she smashed one that had stood for 12 years.

Gayathri's distance of 6.1m was six cms further than the previous best jointly held by Caroline Hitchen of St Annes and Kimberley Kirkpatrick of Roman Road back in 2003.

It was the stand-out moment of another excellent day of athletics at the Blackburn venue.

Gayathri beat Westholme's Sophie Waddicor in the second place who jumped 5.95m while Katy Lord of St Gabriel's was third with 5.8m.

In the boys event, the record of 6.6m, set by William Blackledge from Redeemer in 2012, was never really troubled although Saim Ali of Lower Darwen still impressed in victory with a jump of 6.4m.

Junaid Allam of Wensley Fold was second after recording 6.25m while Sean Booth of St Peter's RC was third in 5.95m.

However, the long jump records remain safe for another year - and the boys will have stood for two decades by the time next year's event comes around.

Simon Begg's mighty effort of 4.12m has stood since 1996 when they the QEGS pupil wrote his name in to the record books. And Hannah Whittaker's has stood for nearly as long, the Westholme pupil jumping 3.79m in 1997.

This year's honours went to Adam Wharton of Salesbury with a leap of 3.62m with Kyle Mashiter of Feniscowles second with 3.56m while Jonny McVan of Lower Darwen was third in 3.52m.

In the girls long jump, Anna Dabrowska of Holy Souls was crowned champion after clearing 3.6m with Poppy Blackhurst second, the Westholme younger recording 3.28m. St Anthony's Chanel McCullian was third with 2.99m.

In the boys cricket ball throw, Harry Singh of Balderstone finished first with 61.3m with Brandon Banks of St Aidan's second (49.5m) and Oliver Rawson of Salesbury third (45.49m).

Fawad Hussain of St Silas remains the record holder with a throw of 68.7m set in 2002.

The girls record was set four years previous by Amber Jordan of Westholme and her distance of 45.35m was challenged but never troubled.

Miraj Mohammad of Audley won with 38.5m with Ruqayya Kiyani of St Thomas second (33.93m) and Kelsea Tracy of St Gabriel's third (32.05m).

On to the track and while there are no records kept, it didn't take anything away from the drama and excitement.

In fact, there was a 'first' when two athletes had to go head-to-head in a re-run after a dead heat in their attempt to get in to their sprint final.

But first it was the turn of the middle distance runners and Hollie Cubban of Westhome won the girls Year Five/Six 700m final beating Ella Hardman of QEGS in to second place with Heera Parvaiz of Audley third.

In the boys finals, Henry Harboard of Salesbury was first with Geoff Holmer of Shadsworth second and Finlay Dewhurst of Feniscowles third.

In the girls Year Five 80m sprint, Aysha Sykes of Westholme was crowned champion with Madison Walls of Lower Darwen runner-up. Mia Hulme of Redeemer was third.

In the girls Year Six final, Taquana Aldridge of Holy Souls sprinted to glory, holding off Freya Dawns of Shadsworth and Christie Sturgess of Westholme third.

Mohammed Hason Bux of Lammack was the boys Year Five sprint king with Jake O'Toole of Roe Lee second and Dylan Gaston of Feniscowles third.

Joe Healey of Salesbury won the Year Six final, finishing just ahead of Cameron Hegg of QEGS and Jack Batty of OLPS.

Year Three and Four pupils also got in on the sprinting act.

Lucy Rishton was the youngest girls winner on the day, the Feniscowles pupil winning the Year Three sprint with Naomi Suliman of SLSP second and Jasmin Poppy Hamilton of Roe Lee third.

Kevin Jolamu of SLSP was the boys winner, holding off the challenge of Oliver Lord of St Gabriels while Khalil Chishti (Wensley Fold) and Samuel Holden (Lower Darwen) joint third.

In the Year Four sprints, Ethan Eccleston of Feniscowles was the boys winner with Umar Ahmed of QEGS second with Isaac Butler of Redeemer third.

Speedy Kate Deegan of Westholme was the girls winner with Kate Crookson of Balderstone second while Feniscowles’ Eva Knowles was third.

As is the tradition with athletics, the day ended with the 4x80m relays.

Westholme took the girls honours with Salesbury around first in the boys.

In the girls race, St Peters were second and St Gabriel’s third. Feniscowles took second spot in the boys and Meadowhead third.

Debs Campbell, chair of the Blackburn Schools Sports Association, was delighted after another successful day of track and field action.

"We have always catered for 32 schools but for some reason is just seems to be getting bigger and bigger and more and more popular.

"Schools are sending bigger teams while family and friends are coming along to support the youngsters which is great because there is nothing better than having lots of people there cheering them on.

"The standard was very high and the highlight was a new record in the girls standing triple jump, a record that had stood for 12 years.

"But elsewhere, there were some very impressive performances."

She added: "I would like to thank St John Ambulance for being there, Witton Park for their assistance but most of all parents, families, teachers and pupils for making it such a special day."