CLACTON’S Tilly Thomas has powered into the top-ten in the UK.

The 16-year-old, who went to St Clare’s Catholic Primary School, was selected for this year’s England Schools Championships, in Birmingham.

And after reaching the final of the under-17s intermediate girls’ 300 metres and clocking a time of 41.3 seconds, she is now ranked ninth in the country.

Thomas, who lives in Victoria Road, Clacton, turns 17 on Boxing Day and will then move into the senior girls’, where she will be focusing on the 400m.

She will now finish the season by competing in the 100m and 200m before a long winter of training at Ipswich Harriers. It has been a very tough season, training six days a week, three on the track and three at the Gallery gym in Clacton.