Three Cumbrian athletes came away with medals from the School Games National Finals.

Hammer thrower Tara Simpson-Sullivan and Oliver Dustin, in the 800m event, took home golds, while Carlisle’s Megan Busby also impressed.

Lowther’s Simpson-Sullivan, Busby and Border Harrier Dustin represented the England North team at Loughborough University.

Simpson-Sullivan retained her hammer title in style. She capped a fine season by throwing a personal best of 62m – bettering her nearest rival by more than three metres – with her last throw of the competition and now tops the UK Under-17 rankings.

“The pressure built, but I clearly perform under pressure,” said the Cumbrian.

“I really wanted to defend my title from last year and I was hoping for a PB to finish off the season, so I’m delighted I could do that here. I have my sights set on competing internationally but I’ve just got to take each step as it comes.”

Middle-distance runner Dustin, of Workington, beat off the competition to take his title in a time of 1.53:68 seconds.

Afterwards, Dustin said: “I knew I had to run hard because Callum Dodds, who came second, is a fast finisher. But I’m really pleased with how the race went.

“My target was to win gold. But I also had the Games record in the back of my mind, but that didn’t happen today.”

Long jumper Busby also medalled as she finished second in her event. The trio competed at the Schools International Athletic Board meeting in Dublin in July, too.

Elsewhere, in the swimming events, Cleator Moor’s Drew Stable featured.

The School Games are a multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes, with about 1,600 athletes competing across 12 sports, seven of which included disability disciplines.

It was established after London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of the legacy programme.

Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds, Jonnie Peacock and Olympic champion Adam Peaty.

The Cumbrians will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of those athletes as they continue their development in the Under-20 age-group next year.