BASILDON athlete Sam Bennett won gold as Team England made history on day five of the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Eight gold, two silver and four bronze medals were secured by the English competitors on a day that will go down as the nation’s most successful day at a Youth Games.

Bennett was competing in the 110m hurdles and finished in 13.71 seconds to take top spot.

And Bennett, who was also the boy’s captain at the competition, was delighted to secure a gold medal.

The 16-year-old said: “I feel amazing.

“It is so good that the whole team have done well today.

“I had a few nerves before my captain’s speech earlier in the week but, having done it now, it has made me more confident and I really think that has helped me on my way.

“It is an honour to be part of the best ever day at a Commonwealth Youth Games. I’m glad I could do my bit.”

Bennett was competing at the Thomas Robinson Stadium, with the Bahamas hosting the competition.

And he got off to a flying start against the six other athletes competing in the 110m hurdles.

Just 0.3 seconds separated first place and last place, as all seven runners went head-to-head.

But Bennett’s rivals, who hailed from countries such as the host nation Bahamas, Sri Lanka, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, could not match the Basildon athlete’s pace over the hurdles.

Team England had representatives in the top two, as Bennett was joined on the podium by Jack Sumners.

Also in the track and field events, Emma Howe claimed a medal in the javelin, while Alex Botterill and Josh Allen won gold and bronze respectively in the 800m.

Anna Burt claimed silver in the girls race.

Team England’s historic day began with Javier and Joaquin Bello securing top spot in the boys beach volleyball competition.

England then won all three of the opening races in the swimming events, with Leah Crisp, Tom Dean and Alicia Wilson coming away victorious.

The earlier successes allowed confidence to flow through the team, as Ciara Schlosshan and Mason Wilby won their respective 200m butterfly events, while Schlosshan was also part of the 4x100m mixed medley relay team - alongside Layla Black, Harry Constantine and Jahrel Murphy - that finished on the podium.