Young Erin Musty was the first female to finish in an outstanding performance at the Gloucester Half Marathon yesterday.

The 17-year-old Cheltenham Harriers runner, a pupil at Stroud High School, completed the 13.1 miles in a stunning one hour, 16 minutes, 43 seconds, smashing the club record which had stood for almost 40 years along the way.

“It was outstanding, an amazing feat at her age,” said Harriers club president Carolyn Franks.

“She’s been around for some time but she’s suddenly come through. She had a very good national schools’ cross-country, finishing fourth.”

What makes yesterday’s performance all the more impressive – she was running as an under-20 – was that it was actually the first time she had run over the distance.

“She’s worked extremely hard over the past year,” said Harriers chairman Crispian Webb. “She always attends every session with her coach Andy Beadle.

“This past winter she has come really good, she’s had some strong results.”

Erin, who is now ranked sixth on the UK all-time under-20 list for the half marathon, finished 21^st overall yesterday in a race that was won by Callum Hanlon in 1.7.41.

The next female to finish after Erin was Severn Athletic Club’s Alice Tredgett, a senior runner, who came 83^rd overall in 1.26.19.

The previous women’s Cheltenham Harriers club record for the half marathon of 1.17.24 was set way back in 1988 by senior runner D. Scott.