CITY of York Athletic Club runner Joshua Schofield is a national champion.

The 16-year-old distance athlete, a student at Queen Ethelburga’s, in Thorpe Underwood, won the 1,500 metre steeplechase last weekend at the England Athletics National Track and Field Championships in Bedford.

He took the crown in the under-17 age group in what was a different discipline for Schofield, who usually competes over 800 and 1,500 metres.

“In my only other steeplechase experience, I fell over and broke both elbows so it wasn’t great,” Schofield said. “I entered and I thought I had a shot at winning, but I didn’t think I would do it.

“The first hurdle was a bit shaky but, 400 metres in, I took it on at the front. The group was whittled down and three of us went away.

“Eventually I got a bit of a gap in the home straight and the gap grew and grew.

“It is definitely the highlight of my track career.

“I have had a tough couple of years with injuries and it is great to get back to where I know I should be.”

Schofield added that his foray into the steeplechase came about somewhat by chance.

“I didn’t have a great English Schools by my high standards,” he added.

“I only came tenth and I trained for better.

“In the aftermath, I got asked to represent the north east at the school games and Karen Buck (COYC coach) said we didn’t have a steeplechaser.

“If I wanted to experience the school games again, I needed to do it and this was an earlier race on the calendar.

“I am now going to experiment with the two (steeplechase and 1,500) for a while. I really don’t know what is going to happen.

“I want to get the winter out of the way, have a good cross-country season and, if I am not feeling really fast in the 1,500, it is something I would consider.

“At the end of the day winning medals is winning medals.”