Oxford City's promising young middle-distance runner Bea Swords missed out on a medal in a dramatic photo-finish in the under 15 girls 800m in the AAA national track & field championship final at the weekend.

Despite the disappointment of being edged out into fourth place, Swords, who clocked a new personal best and club record over the distance, capped a fine season with an excellent run.

As a 13-year-old, this was Swords' first season in the championship in the lower half of the under 15 age group.

Earlier in the season, she made quite an impact at the English Schools National Championships, which were her debut at national level.

There she reached the finals and ran 2mins 15.7secs for the 800m, toppling a 32-year-old club record in the process.

The 800m event at the AAA is always tough as runners have to pass through a series of heats, semis and the final all in one weekend.

Swords won her heat and passed through the semi-final by finishing third.

The final was an exciting race with the pack running a first lap of 64 seconds.

In the final straight, a group of six girls w7ere all battling for the top three spots.

At the line, Bea was placed fourth, just 15 hundredths of a second outside the medals in a time of 2mins 15.2secs, another club record for City.

Swords said: "It is my first year at this level, so I saw this as a chance to learn about the AAA Championships.

"I'm thrilled to have run in the finals and been so close to a medal position."