LILLIE Bellamy showed she is one of the best young runners in the south west at the weekend when she competed in the Virgin Mini Marathon.

The Swindon Harrier was selected as part of the south west under 17 girls team and ran against some of the best young athletes in the UK over the last three miles of the London Marathon course.

A finishing time of 17:48 gave Bellamy 14th overall and she was second in the south west team. Marlboroughs under 15s Gemma Sheppard and Amy Cooper also competed for the team.

Each region selects six boys and six girls in under 13, under 15 and under 17 categories for the event.

Bellamy will now focus on track running, with the notable exception being May 27, when she runs in the Commonweal five-mile race.