Dina Asher Smith and Serita Solomon achieved outstanding success at the European Indoor Athletic Championships in Prague with Dina winning silver in the 60 metres and Serita bronze in the 60 metre hurdles.

Not only this, the Blackheath & Bromley athletes also ran faster than ever before in every race in which they competed with Dina equalling the British record and Serita producing the fourth fastest ever time.

Both athletes are from Orpington and both have been competing for the Club since the age of 11. It was a proud moment for the athletes, their families, coaches, Club and all who have been associated with their development.

Serita was first in action on the Friday morning. She won the heat of her 60 metre hurdles in 8.03, improving her best by one hundredth of a second. It was bound to be tougher in the semi final but she rose to the occasion winning her heat in another new best of 7.95.

Going into the Championships the former Coopers schoolgirl was the 10th ranked of the competitors. By reaching the final she had already exceeded expectation but there was still more to come. A finely timed dip finish saw her claim the bronze medal in 7.93 her third personal best of the day and the fourth fastest ever by a Briton.

Having celebrated her 25th birthday five days previously, it was a perfect belated present. “I’m proud of my performance. It’s such an amazing feeling when your dreams come true. I’m feeling extremely blessed and thankful.”

Coached by her mother Michelle Bovell it has not always been an easy ride to the podium. In 2014 she missed out on a place in the Commonwealth Games 100 metre hurdles final by one thousandth of a second. In 2013 she was somewhat controversially not selected for the World Championships despite having the IAAF qualifying time and as she has progressed to Senior level she has suffered serious injuries to both of her achilles tendons which necessitated surgery and being in plaster.

Injury brought an end to Dina Asher Smith’s outdoor campaign last Summer when a hamstring problem caused her to pull up in the final of the 200 metres at the European Championships. She did skip the Sainsburys Games in Birmingham recently as a precaution but, if this was at the back of her mind in the Czech Republic, it didn‘t show.

As the former Newstead Woods schoolgirl lined up for her heat on Saturday morning, back in Bromley at Norman Park Track, her coach John Blackie gathered a mass of youngsters in the modular building to watch on television. These were members of the Bees Academy for under 11s which was where Dina started and perhaps among those viewers are some more International stars of the future.

They will certainly have been inspired as the 19 year old Kings College student blasted to victory with a new personal best of 7.10 to put her third on the UK all time list. This made her the equal second fastest qualifier.

It was the same again in the semi final on Sunday as not only did she dominate the race but she also ran 7.10. Again she was the equal second fastest qualifier for the final with Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands, the European Outdoor 100 and 200 metre champion, who remained the favourite.

It promised to be an exciting final. A lightning start from Dina saw her in the lead before the tall strong Schippers stormed through to take the title in 7.05 the fastest time in the world this year. But Dina held her form in a blanket finish to win silver in 7.08 which equals the British record. It is also the fastest ever time by a teenager and the equal third quickest in the world in 2015.

She was obviously delighted with her performance “I wasn’t expecting to equal the National Record. I'm over the moon. The time is a bonus.”

Back home at the Clubhouse at Hayes a gathering of more senior Club members, friends and families were equally ecstatic, her performance being the perfect way to help digest their fine Sunday lunch.

The two now prepare for the outdoor season, encouraged by their achievements this Winter, and no doubt their Clubmates will be inspired by their efforts.