Great Yarmouth shot putter Sophie McKinna insists the best is still to come despite opening her season with a bronze medal at the Sainsbury's Indoor British Championships.

Eastern Daily Press: Sophie McKinna on her way to taking bronze in the Women's Shot Put final, during day one of the Sainsbury's British Indoor Championships at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.Sophie McKinna on her way to taking bronze in the Women's Shot Put final, during day one of the Sainsbury's British Indoor Championships at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. (Image: PA Wire)

Having last competed back in August, McKinna blew the cobwebs away with an outing in Sheffield, throwing 15.15m at the English Institute of Sport.

It was enough for the 20-year-old to walk away with bronze, 40cm behind runner-up Shaunaugh Brown while Eden Frances claimed gold with a best of 16.50m.

Having finished fifth in England colours at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games last summer, 2015 is all change for McKinna, having left the tutelage of Geoff Capes and headed back to Great Yarmouth Athletics Club.

And McKinna insisted just being back in the circle competing was enough at the moment.

Eastern Daily Press: Charlie Grice leads the Men's 1500m heat with Tom Hook (right) during day one of the Sainsbury's British Indoor Championships at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.Charlie Grice leads the Men's 1500m heat with Tom Hook (right) during day one of the Sainsbury's British Indoor Championships at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. (Image: PA Wire)

'I would have liked to have thrown further as that was my worst season opener so far. But on the positive side it's the first competition I've enjoyed in over a year so I am happy,' said McKinna, speaking at the event in Sheffield.

'At 20-years-old you can't really turn down a medal in the British Championships, can you?

'I just really enjoyed myself out there. It's always good competing against the same girls and I had a bit of a rough year last year, so to come back from it and compete again is something I was really looking forward to.

'It's been a big adjustment period so from hereon in hopefully all I can do is to improve.

'It's the season opener and I never throw great indoors so I'm going to go back into training now.

'This was more to break the monotony of the training more than anything else.

'Hopefully I'll be making the European U23 Championships this year; that's what I'm aiming for and then anything else is a bonus.'

While Dereham high-jumper Chris Baker, who won silver at last year's Commonwealth Games, was ruled out through injury, Cringleford's Tom Hook was in action in the 1500m and ran a personal best time of 4:08.18 minutes in the heats.

However, it wasn't enough for the 19-year-old to make it to the final and the City of Norwich AC runner now turns his attentions to this weekend's BUCS Nationals where he will race for St Mary's University.

'It could have been better as I didn't get a good start to be honest. It was only my second indoor race ever, as I'm more about the outdoors,' Hook said.

'The 1500m isn't really my race either so it was really tough.

'But I'm looking forward to BUCS next weekend; I'll probably do a 3k there and then that's probably it for the indoors.

'I need to improve my speed. I'm lacking in that now because I've been doing a lot of cross country over the winter so I need to get in some speed work.

'I wasn't able to run the race the way I wanted to today, I'd have liked to have sped off with them at the start but I just didn't have it.'

• Sainsbury's is a partner of British Athletics. The partnership reflects Sainsbury's wider commitment to inspiring healthy lifestyles for all, and complements grassroots campaigns such as Active Kids and the Sainsbury's School Games. Visit www.sainsburys.co.uk for details.