Carlisle teenager Joshua Reibbitt threw his way to a gold medal in the English Schools Athletics Championships.

The 16-year-old won the intermediate (under-17) boys’ hammer title with a throw of 55.63m.

Reibbitt’s winning throw came in the fifth round as he claimed victory at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham – host venue of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Reibbitt’s throw put him ahead of nearest rival Soham Das from Berkshire, who threw 53.85m with Shropshire’s Ethan Kendrick taking bronze with a best effort of 53.48m.

It was the latest national triumph for Reibbitt, who attends Richard Rose Central Academy in Carlisle, competes for Carlisle Aspatria Athletics Club and is a member of Cumbria School of Hammer. He was also national champion two years ago at under-15 level.

The talented athlete received messages of congratulation from Scotby’s double Commonwealth champion and Olympic hammer finalist Nick Miller, who said his achievement was “amazing”.

“So very proud of you and how far you’ve come! Same circle I won my Commonwealth title in! Way to show England who Cumbrians are!” said Miller.

Joshua Reibbitt, centre, with his fellow medallistsJoshua Reibbitt, centre, with his fellow medallists (Image: Supplied)

Reibbitt thanked his coaches, John Little and Paul Holliday, for their help and guidance.

He will now go on to represent England in this weekend’s SIAB International in Carmarthen, Wales, against top young athletes from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

There was other medal success for Cumbrians in Birmingham from a team of 24 athletes representing the county at the national schools finals.

Kendal’s Sarah Smith took silver in the senior girls’ 800m in a time of 2.09.43min – narrowly pipped to gold by winner Eleanor Strevens who clocked 2.09.36.

That came after Smith won her heat as the second fastest qualifier for the final.

Ulverston’s Jess Bailey brought another medal back to Cumbria as she took silver in the senior girls’ 1500m.

She came home in 4.25.80min in the final which was narrowly won by Devon’s Scarlett Livingstone in 4.25.70.

Border Harrier Victoria Chapman, meanwhile, was also on the podium with a bronze medal in the senior girls’ 100m,

She ran a time of 12.23secs in the final behind Devon’s Annabelle Fasuba and Surrey’s Shivelle Marshall, Chapman having earlier won her heat.

There were other strong performances from Cumbrians, with Ashton Quigley coming fifth in the intermediate boys’ discus, and Isabelle Murphy sixth in the intermediate girls’ high jump.

Archie Spicer was a fifth-placed finisher in the junior boys’ 300m final, while Kira Jones reached the final of the 100m senior girls’ hurdles, eventually finishing eighth.

Hugo Berry successfully qualified for the intermediate boys’ 1500m final, where he came tenth, and Penelope Boyle won her 1500m junior girls’ heat before finishing 12th in the final.