LIVERPOOL Harriers duo Craig Gundersen and Ashley Helsby struck gold at the England Under-20 and Under-23 Championships at Bedford’s International Stadium.
Gundersen took the under-23 5000m crown in 14:50.33 with clubmate Ricky Challinor (15:09.15) back in seventh place. Helsby cruised through her under-23 100m hurdles heat in 13.63secs and then stepped up a gear in the final to clinch victory in 13.39.
Harriers’ Mica Nottingham landed bronze in the under-20 200m in 24.29, while Adam Peers was fourth in the under-23 3000m steeplechase in 9:16.00.
The nationals also doubled up as the trials for the World Junior Championships in Canada next month.
Warrington AC’s Harry Ellis, who was the only athlete on the start list with the qualifying time, had to settle for fourth place in the under-20 1500m final in 3:51.76. Clubmate James Gladman was third in the 110m hurdles final in 14.21.
Michael Rimmer will be gunning for a fifth successive national 800m title at this weekend’s Aviva European Trials and UK Championships at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.
The Liverpool Pembroke Sefton runner heads for the Midlands on a high after last week’s second place at the European Team Championships.
Rimmer pushed Russia’s former Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy all the way as he clocked 1:45.62.
“He was very strong as I expected but I was pleased with that,” Rimmer said. “I’ve learned a I had to stay close to him. I was tactically spot on and that shows I’m learning to be patient.”
