Sprinter Amy Hunt couldn’t have imagined a more perfect end to her season.

The 16-year-old Newark runner won 100m gold at the National Athletics Championships last month, smashing her personal best time with an exceptional run of 11.56 secs.

What’s more the teenager’s hero Kim Collins – a six-time Olympian with St Kitts and Nevis – was on hand to present her with a medal at the Bedford meet.

The victory meant even more to Hunt after the disappointment she suffered at the European Youth Games two months ago, missing out on the final at an event she held close to her heat.

“I was really over the moon with how the Nationals went,” said Hunt, who burst onto the sprinting scene in 2017 grabbing hold at the Great North City Games.

“I felt really good in training and after what’s happened this year, decided to absolutely bomb it having made the final.

“I wasn’t expecting the quick time on the day but had thought it was something I was capable of for a while.

“For different reasons, things weren’t coming together. I do set high expectations on myself after the way my first couple of years of competition have gone.

“I’ve focussed on the 100m rather than the 200m this season and I think that’s helped me drive my time down.”

Indeed, the Kesteven Grammar School pupil has only raced once over 200m this season – at a meet in Loughborough in July when she clocked 24.55 secs.

Set to return to the gym in early October and the track a couple of weeks later, Hunt is determined to continue her progress and make a splash in Under-20 events next season.

Her cause is also being helped by The Nottingham Building Society, who are teaming up with charity SportsAid to support 50 local athletes as they try to find their ‘time to shine’, with each receiving £750 of funding.

Having already donated £240,000 to SportsAid to help athletes buy equipment, travel to competitions and receive the training they need to be the best they can, The Nottingham Building Society are now also helping athletes on the path to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, and beyond.

Despite her success, Hunt is well aware the hard work starts now is she is to achieve Olympic ambitions.

“There’s a lot of stuff I need to work on in the winter with my coaches,” she said.

“I’m going to focus primarily on strength and endurance work on the track, building up my force.

“I know in the 200m I need to be able to sustain my speed in the final 50m, so that’s something I’ll look at as well.

“It’s exciting and hopefully there are plenty more titles to come.”

Nottingham Building Society and Harrison Murray teamed up with SportsAid in 2013 to help future sports stars get their time to shine. Visit thenottingham.com to find out more.