Bicester middle-distance runner Sophie Tyers admits she surprised even herself after blowing away the 1,500m field at the BUCS Gatorade Nationals on Saturday.

Though normally an 800m runner, Tyers tried her hand at the 1500m – and it turns out she’s a natural.

Representing Loughborough University, the 22-year-old blasted to victory in a time of 4.19mins 86sec, just 0.18 seconds away from the championship record.

It is all the more remarkable considering an Achilles injury has hindered her last two years and Tyers now can’t wait to see what the future holds.

“I’m very proud, I had no idea I could do that,” she said.

“This is my second-ever indoors 1,500m apart from the heat, so I didn’t really know what to expect.

“My coach just said just run fast, but no targets, and I didn’t really think I would have the speed because I’ve been training over long distances this winter, so I really enjoyed it.

“I don’t know what’s next for me because I’ve just come off the back of two really rough years with injury.

“I had serious Achilles problems in my left foot and only now over the winter have I started training again. I couldn’t have an operation last summer; I just had to wait for the pain to go.”

Gatorade is the exclusive nutrition and hydration partner to British Universities & Colleges Sports and headline sponsor of the BUCS Gatorade Nationals. BUCS and Gatorade work together to educate student athletes on the importance of sports nutrition and hydration – visit: www.bucs.org.uk/gatorade