Running Smart - Chyna-Rae Is UK No1

Nottinghamshire’s teen sprint sensation, Chyna-Rae Smart, 15, has added another couple of medals to her increasing haul over the past few weeks.

The Kimberley athlete, who goes to the Blue Coat Aspley Academy, picked up silver medals at both the English Schools & Athletics Association (intermediate U17s 100m, ESAA) in Birmingham, and School International Athletic Board (100m & 4x100m relay, SIAB) in Belfast, competitions.

Miss Smart’s 2026 had already seen her become the Nottinghamshire U16s County champion in both the 100m and 200m disciplines, whilst also achieving a personal best of 11:59 seconds in the former.

That PB placed Smart among the leading, under-16 sprinters in the country, an achievement solidified in recent competition, losing out only to Surrey’s Shivelle Marshall at ESAA, and to Wales’s Aliyah Afolabi at SIAB.

Speaking to the Nottingham Sport, Chyna-Rae said of her journey so far; “I’m happy with my progress generally, so far, as I’m ranked UK number one.

“With only running for three years though, I’m still learning and developing.”

Representing Rugby & Northampton Athletic Club, where she is coached by Matthew Thomas, Miss Smart has certainly come on leaps-and-bounds over the past three years, finding a home from home in athletics.

At Birmingham’s Alexandra Stadium, over the 10-11 July this year, Smart won Heat 4 with a time of 11:77secs, to qualify for the semi-finals, finishing second in both that, with a time of 11:60secs, and the final itself, in 11:88secs – the semi-final coming close to bettering her PB.

Looking back at her Birmingham outing, Smart added; “I really enjoyed the meet in the Birmingham English schools.

“I’d set my sights high so a little disappointed to not come away with the gold, but grateful with a silver medal.”

As for her last outings, this past weekend in Belfast, on international duty, the 100m contest would see her post a time of 11:80secs to finish behind Afolabi, whilst in the 4x100m relay race she was part of the quartet who posted 46:27secs, and finishing comfortably for silver.

For Smart though, it’s the competing, and the experience that comes with, which is vital in her early progression.

Of the Belfast trip, and how recent experiences have resonated, Smart concluded by saying that: “It was my first international vest and, running out for the country, I was happy to be able to represent England.

“I now want to go out and expand, to improve on this current season, and to continue working and perfecting my craft.”

With the second half of 2026, and beyond, looking just as promising for a third year, teen athlete, who’s already putting on PBs, and claiming medals, the world is, very much her oyster, and we, here at the Nottingham Sport, will be watching her progress.