Sarah Waldron runs indoor personal best time over 5km

Sarah Waldron has represented GB and England in cross country

Herefordshire athlete Sarah Waldron has opened her US season with a personal best at an indoor meeting in Seattle.

The 22-year-old from Puddleston said she was delighted with her time of 16 minutes, 16 seconds in the 5,000m race.

"I have had a tough time over the past month with illness and getting back into the swing of things again in America," she said.

"Whilst I just missed the national qualifying time I was happy to feel I was running strongly," she added.

Sarah is currently studying for a masters degree at the University of New Mexico after winning a sports scholarship to the Albuquerque-based college.

She says the facilities and the altitude have really helped her develop her running and is confident that she can build on her performance in Seattle.

"I know there is a lot more in the tank but the preparation for the race hasn't been great," she told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"In fact, this was so much so that I wasn't actually planning on coming on this trip.

I feel really positive now that I have got one race under my belt

Sarah Waldron

"Taking everything into account I am really pleased with how things went and I am just looking to get the qualifying time now," she added.

In order to make the qualifying time for the US national championships Sarah has to take another nine seconds out of her personal best as the qualifying time is 16:07.

She is confident of building on this good start to the season and is hopeful of making the qualifying time in one of the upcoming college meetings.

"I feel really positive now that I have got one race under my belt," she said.

"I haven't done a lot of indoor running so it is something that is a bit new to me.

"I have struggled in terms of feeling my best recently but now I have gained a lot of confidence and so can move forwards which is really pleasing," she added.

Sarah also received another boost when she was awarded a Highly Commended certificate for her achievements at the annual Herefordshire sports awards.