MARSHFIELD’S Loren Bleaken admits she ran out of gas at the Aviva English Schools’ Track and Field Championships – but has vowed to ensure it never happens again.

The 14-year-old reached the final of the junior girls 1500m after clocking 4:41.33 minutes while finishing second in her heat.

However her challenge was knocked off course by a sore throat and she was not feeling 100 per cent, coming home an agonising fourth in 4:39.46 minutes – just over three seconds shy of third.

The Hardenhuish School pupil claimed junior girls 1500m silver 12 months ago and vowed to learn the lessons from Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

“Nobody wants to finish fourth because it is so close to a medal but that is the way it goes I suppose and it was just one of those things,” said Bleaken.

“My heat was good and I just did as well as I could in the final but it wasn’t enough. I guess it was just a bad day at the office. I was feeling good going into it but I just didn’t have enough for the final.

“It is even more disappointing when you consider that last year I won silver – I would have liked more of the same this year too but it wasn’t to be.

“But I will be back next year to try and reclaim a medal and missing out this year has made me hungry for more – I picked up some good experience this year.”

Bleaken’s time was still a season’s best and was closely watched by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, who gave Bleaken an athletics masterclass at Loughborough College back in May.

“It is great to see athletes like Loren performing. The standard has always been high at these events and Loren is very talented and has shown promise since she has come to one of my programmes,’’ said Holmes.

“This is big stage for Loren in her young career and hopefully it is just the start for her in becoming a top level athlete.”

Overall it proved to be a weekend of near misses for the Wiltshire squad with just a solitary bronze for Swindon hurdler Keeleigh Chapman in the junior girls’ 75m event.

Sheldon School’s Connell Macquisten was fourth in the senior boys’ pole vault in his debut at the event but admitted: “I had hopes to do better so I’m not really happy with that.’’ Vaulters Tom Gibson and Laura Butcher finished 10th in the senior boys and senior girls’ events respectively.

Devizes School all-rounder Joe Hutchison, a former champion of the junior boys’ 200m, finished sixth in the senior boys’ 110m hurdles after clocking a personal best of 14.57secs in the heats.