HOPES are high that Ashley Nemits has laid down a marker for another outstanding year.

Confirmation has been received that the Warrington Athletics Club sprinter broke the 400m UK record for a 14-year-old when she finished third while racing against senior and under 20s runners in the indoor Sheffield Festival of Athletics last month.

Nemits, a student at Bridgewater High School and Warrington's female athlete of the year in 2018, took the record off 1980 Olympian Linsey MacDonald who had set the standard on December 9, 1978.

Nemits' record run of 57.8secs, almost three seconds better than her previous best, saw her finish behind British champion and European bronze medallist at 400m hurdles Meghan Beesley (Birchfield Harriers) and under 23s runner Yasmin Liverpool (Coventry).

Remarkably, in what is Nemits' first year as an under 17s competitor, it was also her first 400m race since the same meeting at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield last year.

Among her many highlights in 2018 was a bronze medal in the English Schools Track and Field Championships 300m at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham in July.

She won gold in both the county club (200m) and schools (300m) championships too.

Nemits gave up a successful start in gymnastics in order to focus on her running.

Her progress is being steered by coach Trevor Painter, the husband of Wigan's 2008 Beijing 800m Olympian Jenny Meadows.

"She’s come on leaps and bounds with Trevor, he’s amazing with her and is a lovely guy," said her grandmother, Chris Mercer.

"Jenny and Ashley are bosom buddies. Ashley’s training with another Olympian too, Marilyn Okoro.

"Ashley's very committed and goes to Wigan three times a week.

"It’s not all running. She does a lot of core work now, which she also does at home before going to school.

"She also trains at 'Rivington Steps' near Bolton. And she does a session at Formby beach.

"Everything’s planned out for her and she’s being very well looked after."

A trip to South Africa is beckoning this Easter.

"She’s going altitude training in April which she’s looking forward to," said Chris.

"Her mum’s going with her. There’s a gang going from Wigan. Trevor does it every year, he’s an elite coach and knows what he’s doing."

She hails from a sporting family, with her mum Joanne (nee Mercer) and two aunties having previously competed with Warrington AC.

And Ashley is seen as having the potential to go a long way in the sport.

Chris said: "She was about eight and wanted something to do so her mum said I’ll take you down to the athletics club and see how you go on.

"She did three races on the track and she was club champion. She was an under nine and got three medals in her first races and it just took off from there.

"Trevor has got her pencilled in for the Commonwealth Games, that’s what he’s hoping for.

"Obviously she wants to go to the Olympics, that’s every kid’s dream.

"This year, if she goes to the English Schools and gets the right result she could get an England vest running for the schools which is what she’s hoping for."