Sam Redd is back on top after winning the United Kingdom under-20 javelin title.

It has been a long haul for the Brighton and Hove young-ster, who struggled with injury last season and had a disappointing start to 2002.

Although she took third place in the All England Schools' event, she was unable to throw flat out in many competitions and at times was reduced to taking just one or two throws.

Unable to train properly, her technique suffered, and after throwing 44.53m early in the season she has also had to cope with exams.

But it all came good for her in the national championships at Bedford when she pulled out the best throw of her career to win with 47.66m.

It also broke the Sussex under-20 record which she set two years ago.

"That's a real relief," she said but added: "I was hoping I would have been closer to the 50m mark by now to be con-sidered for the world junior championships."

There were also two Sussex bronze medals on the first day of the championships.

Crawley's Gavin Thompson, who will bolster Crawley in their British League match next weekend, ran his fastest 5,000m to take third place in the under-23 event.

Thompson, who is back from university in America, also set the quickest time by a Sussex runner this season with 14min. 32.0sec.

And Sarah Tomlins, who runs for Horsham, clocked the fastest Sussex time this season when she took third place in the under-23 400m in 56.6sec.

Worthing and East Grin-stead were the only Sussex teams to take part in the first round of the new-style British League Cup and did well to finish fourth and fifth in their group.

Worthing supplied the only Sussex winners, all in the middle distance events.

Chris Bird maintained his outstanding form this season by winning the 800m in 1min. 57.5sec.

County champion Rachael Ogden ran a sensible race to outstrip the opposition in the women's 1,500m in 4min. 37.0sec., and Philippa Aukett took the 800m in 2min. 20.7sec.

The Aukett twins were in good form, collecting valuable points all round for Worthing.

Philippa also finished third in the 400m in the good time of 59.6sec., while Lucy came second in the 400m hurdles in 66.6sec. and filled fourth place in the 200m in 26.9sec.