STACEY Downie has returned from the European Indoor Masters Championships with a record medal haul.

Competing in the W35 category, the Borders athlete finished the week in Poland with four silver medals from the 60m, 200m, 4x200m women’s and 4x200m mixed relays.

The PE teacher from West Linton contributed to a fantastic championships for the GB team, finishing in fourth place in the medal table.

After recording a quick 7.92-second heat in the 60m, which equalled her season’s best, Downie lined up for the final as the fastest qualifier. A quick start helped her into the lead but she was caught by a late surge from French athlete Sandy Delemarle, who crossed the line in 7.85 seconds to Downie’s 7.94.

Downie secured 200m final qualification with a season’s best of 25.99 seconds. She lined up in lane five in the final and gave a great effort to chase down Delemarle. Frustratingly, Downie lost all her speed and rhythm after catching her toe on the track and did well to stay on her feet going into the second bend. Another season’s best of 25.91 seconds and a second-place finish were of small consolation.

The Peeblesshire athlete was selected to represent GB W35 for the 4x200m women’s relay and mixed relay on the final day of the championships, both on leg four. The team comprised Jennifer Beattie, Laura Haggarty and Nia Rutter.

Given the seemingly impossible task of chasing down 30m to get close to a medal, Downie was not deterred and passed not one but two athletes in the home straight in an inspired run to cross the line for a well-earned silver medal. The Brits finished behind a French record of 1:47:54. It was extra special that the relay team comprised three Scots running together for the first time. Downie’s split of 25.3 was the quickest of any athlete involved in the relays.

Running in the final race of the championships, the GB mixed 4x200m team was made up of Michael Dickens, Nia Rutter, Craig Cox and Downie. Despite finishing strongly to win the heat and clocking a new British mixed relay record of 1:38:19, the team lost out by only 0.3 seconds to France.

The GB team amassed 164 medals – 50 golds, 62 silver and 53 bronze. Scottish athletes contributed 30 medals to the total.

Downie finished with four silver medals – the most of any Scottish athlete at the event.

She will now look towards defending her 200m and 400m world outdoor titles in Gothenburg, Sweden, in August.