Sam Redd admits she was inconsolable after missing out on a gold medal at the All England Schools Championship.

The javelin thrower had been expected to strike gold for Sussex at Exeter but had to settle for bronze after a weekend of problems.

Redd had already established herself as the top under-20 thrower in the country this season and, although she had an ankle injury at the end of May which forced her to miss the Sussex Schools Championships, she was optimistic the rest and treatment she had received would have done the trick.

One week earlier she had returned to action and thrown a personal best of 47.13m in the National Under-20 Championships so she had every reason to be optimistic.

Things did not get off to a good start when one of her javelins was rejected for being out of balance, although it had been cleared for the area championships in May.

The rejected implement was 40-45m rated while the 45-50m javelin was approved.

Redd admitted: "My ankle was sore and what with the trouble with the javelin and some poor early throws my technique was going and I was getting into a real state. "Eventually I used a javelin from the pool, which are provided for all competitors, and got my best throw of 42.31m.

"Twelve months back I would not have been too upset by the distance but I was throwing so well a month ago that I was confident I would win the title and I was really upset.

"I could see my trip to Hungary and the World Youth Games disappearing and for a time I was inconsolable. The physio looked at the ankle, strapped it and explained what had happened and what is needed to put it right.

"I was a little happier as I knew with the correct strapping I would be able to throw in Hungary but I am still frustrated that I lost a title that should have been mine.

"Two years back I was able to take defeat in my first year in the Intermediate age group in my stride because I had thrown pretty close to my best, but Saturday was a real disappointment.

"I had been looking forward to this event for a month. I suppose I should be pleased that I got on the podium and got a bronze medal, but it is not the same as gold."

It was still Sussex Schools' best result for years and there were also some fine performances by athletes from this county throwing for other teams.

County under-17 shot and discus champion Simon Cooke, from Chichester, seems determined to deprive Sussex Schools of his services. Last year he won the junior discus title at All England Schools while attending a Surrey school.

This year he has moved to a Hampshire school and finished second in the intermediate discus event with a good throw of 44.69m.

Ed Prickett, who comes from Reigate but has recently joined the Crawley club, proved a convincing winner of the senior 3,000m in 8min. 20.62sec.

Fellow Crawley athletes Natalie Christmas, who finished fourth in the senior girls 400m hurdles in 63.62sec., and Charlotte Best, fourth in the intermediate 800m in 2min. 13.71sec., also impressed.

It is the turn of the senior athletes to bite their nails this weekend.

The AAA Track and Field Championships are being held at Birmingham and incorporate trials for the World Championships in Edmonton in August.

Standards are high for the World Championships and few Sussex athletes are likely to figure.

Crawley's Mick Jones has already achieved the B standard for the hammer and probably needs only to win this weekend to assure himself of a place in the Great Britain squad.

Another Crawley athlete, Nick Buckfield, achieved the pole vault A standard of 5.75m. when he was at warm weather training in America in May.

He no-heighted in the European Cup a couple of weeks ago so he really needs to re-establish himself with a good winning clearance at Birmingham to make sure of a place in the team.

Sean Baldock, from Hastings, also needs to pull something out of the bag if he is to gain a place, even in the relay squad, for the Worlds.

Currently sixth on the British ranking list with 46.35sec., which he clocked in Madrid in May, he is still outside the qualifying standard but that is not his only problem.

Jamie Baulch and Jarred Deacon, who got the better of Baldock when they clashed a few weeks ago, are just behind him on the ranking lists but ahead are Mark Richardson, Daniel Caines, Iwan Thomas, Du'aine Ladejo and Mark Hylton.

Baldock admitted: "I have had a few niggles and that is why I didn't defend my South of England title.

"Although I can still feel a slight niggle I am training well and I have been told that I will not do any damage by racing.

"Having gone to Sydney last year, I am determined to get a place on the plane to Edmonton and Sunday is when I will book my place."

Baldock's determination may well be his saviour. Who can forget his run in the Olympic trials last year when he took second place inside the standard and gained an automatic place for Sydney?

Last year the surprise winner of the 10,000m walking title was Steyning's Matthew Hales.

Hales has had to cut back on training recently because of study and may not defend his title but club mate Darrell Stone, who led for much of the race last year, will be keen to keep the title in Sussex.

In the pole vault, Lucy Webber from Burgess Hill is not really close enough to qualify for a place in the British team but she could get a medal.