ANDOVER Athletics Club star Holly Mills has made an impressive start to the 2017 season with success in the South of England Indoor Championships and at interntional level.

The talented U20 athlete was in fine form at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, securing her fourth successive SEAA Indoor Championship following victories in the U15 and U17 age groups.

This was despite her being in her first year as an U20 athlete, although she went into the competition as favourite after finishing last season ranked 8th female in the UK.

Despite having had limited jumps training over the winter, Mills stamped her authority on the event from round one with an opening leap of 5.93m.

Showing consistent form with jumps over 5.80m, Mills finished with a best of 5.98m to take the title.

Shortly after the championships, the Andover AC starlet received news that she had been selected to represent England at senior level for the first time for an international meeting in Vienna.

England took a mix of experienced and up-and-coming athletes to Vienna with Mills amongst five athletes making their England senior debut at this now regular international team opportunity.

Despite being the youngest athlete in the Long Jump competition, the teenager showed great maturity producing a fine series of jumps culminating with a best leap of 6.03m in round five.

This proved to be the winning jump and rather than a medal Holly’s reward for winning the competition was a loaf of Austrian bread (pictured).

Mills said: “Competing for England in a senior event was such a new experience.

“It was an amazing trip and to win the long jump with the jump over 6m was great and competing against much older women I wasn’t expecting to win.

“But to win and be awarded this massive loaf of Austrian bread on the podium instead of a gold medal was brilliant.

“A big thanks to team England for selecting me and making the trip to Vienna a good trip all round.”