Alison Leonard became the fastest 16-year-old 800 metres runner in the country when she clocked 2:09:55 at the British Milers Club meeting at Stretford.

The Chorley Harrier, who also represents Blackburn Harriers in league competitions, won the Women's "A" race to rise to second in the under 17 rankings, fractionally behind the best time set by the 14 year old Sarah Hopkinson from Gloucester.

Significantly, both young women are faster than the leading under 20 in the UK this season. Hyndburn's Leigh Lennon was third in the same race in 2:14.82 to rise to ninth in the under 17 National Rankings three weeks before her 15th birthday.

Paul Bradshaw of Blackburn Harriers won the Men's 800m "A" race in 1:52.98 and in doing so qualified for a major meeting at the Crystal Palace track ahead of two athletes faster than him on paper.

The 18 year-old climbs to sixth in the under 20 lists, and fourth excluding indoor performances.

Adam Hurley lowered his personal best in the 1500m by 11 seconds to 4:08.47 to reach eighth in the under 17 standings while fellow Blackburn Harrier Curtis Pearce celebrated his sixteenth birthday with 1:58:18 in the 800m to rising to thirteenth best in the under 17 list.

While Leigh Lennon's clocked a season's best, all the remaining Hyndburn squad lowered their best ever times in the 800m.

Michael Aspden improved by eight seconds as Nicola Barnes, Ian Yates, Suzanne Bailey, Michael Smith and Nathan Riding all set PBs.

andy.mcallister@virgin.net