A TALENTED teenager representing Great Britain has put Cumbria on the map after landing a silver medal at the European Athletics Championships.

Overwhelming praise has been offered up to Ulverston Victoria High School student Jess Bailey who won the silver medal for Great Britain on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old travelled more than 3,000 miles from Cumbria to Jerusalem to take part in the women’s 3,000m at the U18 European Athletics Championships which took place this week.

The 2022 European Athletics U18 Championships is the third edition of the biennial continental athletics competition for European athletes aged 15 to 17. It is held in Jerusalem, Israel from July 4 to 7 at the Hebrew University Stadium.

The teenager won the silver medal just days after completing her GCSE exams and is due to join Ulverston Victoria High School Sixth Form in September.

Richard Butler, assistant headteacher at UVHS, said the whole school is ‘so proud’ of Jess’ achievements in athletics.

He said: “Everyone at UVHS was already so proud of Jess and her amazing achievements in athletics, but this is just something else. 

“For a 15-year-old to be chosen to represent GB at U18 level is phenomenal in itself, but to then go and win the silver medal, days after completing seven gruelling weeks of revision and GCSE examinations shows what sort of a person Jess is. 

“Her drive, determination and commitment are an example to us all.

“The only problem we now have is whether we mention the Olympics when she returns to our Sixth Form in September.”

Jess completed the 3,000m race in 9:32.74, with Danish runner Sofia Thøgersen landing the gold medal with a time of 9:20.56.

The championships saw an array of medals won by the GB team, including gold medals won by Faith Akinbileje in the 200m, Charlotte Henrich in the 400m and Annie Mann in the 1500m.

This follows the golds won by Cleo Agyepong in the shot, Mia McIntosh in the 100m hurdles and Nia Wedderburn-Goodison in the 100m on Tuesday.