LINFORD Christies and Sally Gunnells of the future will be sprinting towards Blackpool in Millennium Year.

The resort has been chosen to stage the major home international Athletics tournament for 15-17 year-olds in July 2000.

Some 180 top field and track athletes from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be competing for top honours in Stanley Park sports arena.

John Blackledge, senior leisure services officer, said: "It's a major coup that the English Schools Athletics Association has chosen the resort for its most prestigeous event in millennium year. These are the top performers of their generation, we're talking about the Coes, Ovetts, Crams and Christies of the future."

Leisure chairman Coun Roy Lewis said: "This is a real feather in our cap and a compliment to the work of the sports officials in promoting our facilities. Blackpool is coming to the forefront of sporting activities - it will be wonderful to have a home international like this."

The main factor in winning the bid was a successful English Schools Athletics championship here in 1993. Lancashire Schools Athletics Association and the council will be organising the event in partnership.

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