TeamBath AC's Alex Carter ran superbly to win his first national track medal at the England Athletics Championships in Bedford.

The 14-year-old from the village of Winsley, near Bradford on Avon, split the pre-race favourites from Oldham – Adam Howard and Jack Crabtree – to snatch the silver medal in the under-15 boys' 3,000m.

"I thought I had an outside chance of a medal but it would have been at best a bronze so to win the silver is very pleasing," said Carter, who is sponsored by Running Bath.

"I thought my run at the English Schools' Championships [fifth place in the 1,500m] was just as good but I guess this feels better as I have a medal."

Carter knew he wasn't the quickest in the field but he is a very strong runner and he stuck to the two Oldham boys as they split the field with their forceful running.

"I took the lead with 600 metres remaining but Howard stuck with me and kicked ahead in the last 200 metres," Carter added.

Coach Adrian Clover said it was an excellent effort by Carter towards the end of a busy season for the St Laurence School student.

"It was a big personal best for Alex in very windy conditions and takes him up to second in the UK rankings," said Clover.

"On that evidence there is a lot more to come from him next year if he has a good winter."

For the moment, Carter is enjoying a week of training at St Mary's College in West London after being invited to a camp funded by the London Marathon.

"We train every day and also get lot of talks, including one from Paula Radcliffe tomorrow which should be great," said Carter.

There was a second TeamBath medal for 13-year-old Clare Dyer, who soared to a new personal best of 2.80m to finish joint third with two other girls.

"They couldn't separate the three as they all had the same amount of failures," explained Clover, who also coaches Dyer.

"They will all get medals but on the day they held a draw to see who would collect the bronze on the rostrum and luckily Clare won that so went home with a medal.

"She is bottom of the age group and eligible to compete again next summer so that was an excellent effort, particularly as the conditions were very difficult for the vaulters."

Elsewhere Marshfield-based TeamBath runner Loren Bleaken was fifth in the under-15 girls' 1,500m and Olivia Wood finished tenth in the under-15 girls' discus.

George Harford and Laura Smith both went out of the heats of the 100m and 300m respectively.