REBECCA Jeggo says receiving her gold medal from hurdles legend Sally Gunnell was the 'cherry on the cake' after she stormed to victory, at the South of England Indoor Senior Athletic Championships.

The Colchester Harriers sprinter started her indoor season in style by winning her senior women’s 200 metres final, at Lea Valley.

Despite drawing an unfavourable outside lane, Jeggo dominated the race in the first 100m after reacting to the gun superbly.

The talented 20-year-old maintained her lead through to the finish line, clocking a time of 24.8 seconds to start the year in the best possible way.

She received her gold medal from Gunnell - who won 400m hurdles gold at the 1992 Olympics, in Barcelona.

Jeggo said: "Having my medal presented to me by Sally Gunnell was the cherry on the cake.

"I was really happy to have won - to have such a legend present me with my medal was fantastic.

"She congratulated me and asked me if I was happy with my time.

"I'd never won the South of England before, so it was a good feeling to win gold.

"I've worked very hard in training for four or five months leading up to the competition.

"I felt good going into it but no matter how hard you train, you never really know how it will go until you compete.

"Because of that, it was a relief that it went so well.

"Last year was a bit of a breakthrough season for me.

"I feel like I have more self belief now and it gave me more confidence, going into the South of England event.

"I always like to keep my feet on the ground.

"When you're on the start line, you're out there on your own but you have a big network behind you."

Jeggo, who has been a Harriers member since she was ten years old, had earlier comfortably won her 200m heat, jogging over the line in 25.51s.

It was Jeggo's first gold medal performance, at the South of England event.

The next stop for the University of Essex student is the BUCS University Indoor Championships, which take place between February 14 and 16.

She added: "I have the University Championships coming up next, which will tough.

"But winning gold at the South of England puts me in a good place, going into that event and it sets me up nicely.

"Lea Valley is a great track - when you run a good time there, you know you're doing OK."

Harriers' Joe Wilkin competed in the senior men’s 60m and posted a time of 7.47s in his heat.

Meanwhile, Harriers' Charlie Dobson opened his 2020 season at the Loughborough Indoor Open.

The sprinter made a couple of rare appearances in the 60m, running a best of 6.75s for a healthy personal best.

He hopes to represent his University at BUCS in this shorter distance, ahead of his outdoor season.