HIGH jump talent Poppy Lake returned to competition in style after nearly a year out through illness.

Lake, 19, won the senior women’s high jump at the Southern Indoor Championships with a best clearance of 1.75m.

It completes a full return to fitness for the former Southend High School for Girls athlete who was laid low with glandular fever for much of last year.

Elsewhere at the championships held at Lee Valley, Dale Clutterbuck continues to impress as he made winning a gold medal in the 800m look easy.

The 24-year-old from Canvey showed remarkable consistency to run 1m 52.12 in the heat and then follow that up with victory in the final in 1m 52.22s.

Basildon AC’s Isobel Ives is another athlete showing promising early season form as she won a gold medal in the under-20 women’s 1,500m.

Ives, who ran an 800m in 2m 11.82s a week earlier, took victory in 4m 35.72s.

The 17-year-old has also been selected to run for England in the 800m at the Welsh International in February.

Stanford-le-Hope hurdler Hayley McLean won a silver medal in the flat 400m in the senior women’s category, clocking 56.20s.

Southend AC’s Jake King just missed out on the medals as he finished fourth in the senior men’s 400m in 49.8s.

Basildon AC’s Mae Bullman finished tied fourth in the under-20 women’s high jump with a clearance of 1.55m.