LUKE Roach-Christie became the first National Schools Champion in the history of John Lyon School on Saturday.

The 14-year-old shot putter needed the longest throw by anybody in his age-group this year (14.90) to hold off the challenge of Hertfordshire's Maro Itoje by just 5cm.

Roach-Christie was one of four John Lyons pupils to compete at the championships - not bad for a school who have previously only had one entrant in the National Schools Finals.

And he wasn't the Harrow school's only medallist, to the delight of PE master Adam Jones.

He said: "This had never happened to us before but then the school seems to be experiencing a golden age of athletics at the moment.

"It's rare for any school to succeed to this degree. We had more representatives than any other school in the county, and two medals from one school is more than some whole counties won."

"I'm also one of the Middlesex team managers and we finished third overall with four national champions, so for one of those four to come from our school is a great achievement.

"I'm very proud of all our four boys."

John Lyons' other medal was claimed by Anthony Jeffrey in the 100m.

Jeffrey, also 14, won his semi-final in 11.42 (a John Lyon School record), and matched that time in the final to take the bronze medal behind Jamie Wilkes from the West Midlands.

Eighteen year-old Sonny Flynn was the third pupil from the school to reach a final, finishing eighth in the 400m, while 14-year-old Babatundae Adelekan trapped a nerve during his heat of the 200m, but battled on bravely to finish fifth.

Headmaster Kevin Riley added: "This has proved to be a vintage year for athletics at JLS. We have invested heavily in sport and we're really seeing the results."