A SCHOOL athlete has won a coveted scholarship to the University of Richmond, Virginia, in the USA, following a very impressive 2013-14 sporting season.

Seventeen-year-old Emma Slevin, of Kingham Hill School, is Midlands Counties Champion and put in a very impressive performance at the England U17 National Championships at 1500m.

However, it was her lightning time of 4:37:09 in the 1500m at the British Milers' Club Grand Prix in Manchester than clinched the scholarship offer.

Cross country running is also a very strong suit for Emma and been well placed at county and national championships. Emma loves cross country running and the joy and challenge of mud, mud and more mud of the English running season.

At Richmond Emma will be running for the cross country and track team. As well as some very serious training she will soon be competing against other universities and other collegiate athletes.

“I am very excited about taking up my scholarship at Richmond and benefitting from the top quality coaching of Lori Taylor and Jon Molz," she said.

Kingham Hill School headmaster Nick Seward added:: “Emma has done tremendously well and deserves this wonderful opportunity. She is an inspirational pupil and we will follow her career with pride and interest.”

Although she has not made the final decision, Emma is likely to study psychology and probably sports psychology alongside her fledging athletics career.