FASTEST man in Bolton Michael Smith is closing in on the top 100m runners in the country.

The 22-year-old smashed his personal best at the AAA's Under-23 Championships when he recorded 10.5 seconds.

The Farnworth sprinter, who is bidding to make it to the top despite a total lack of funding, sponsorship, recognition or quality facilities in Bolton, has now hacked a massive three tenths of a second off his personal best in three weeks.

His latest fastest time means he is just five tenths of a second behind what World and Olympic champion Maurice Greene is doing week in week out - that is five metres.

He was the fourth fastest qualifier from the heats at Bedford but suffered an injury which slowed him to 10.7 in the semi-finals which saw him miss out on a place in the final by one place.

Allen Parkinson, who has coached Michael - nicknamed Billy Whizz because of his devastating speed - for the past eight years, enthused: "It was the best I have ever seen him run. Everything we have worked on came together in one race and he was jumping for joy when he saw the time.

"Unfortunately he aggravated an injury and had to have his leg worked on before the semi. He was carrying the injury in the semi but when he found out he had missed out on the final by one place he was disappointed he hadn't pushed himself more."

Fellow Bolton Harrier Brian Hall took bronze in the high jump with a leap of 2.05m, a magnificent performance by the 18-year-old who was competing against rivals up to five years his senior. He is also closing in on the big time with his jump being just 30 centimetres less than the best in the world can do.

Hazel Carwardine confirmed her ranking as fourth best Under-23 triple jumper in the country with a fourth place. She missed out on the bronze when the last jump of the competition beat her effort of 11.82m by just three centimetres.

"The nerves got to her a bit and she didn't jump as well as she can but the experience is what she really wanted and it will do her a lot of good."