FOUR Bolton United Harriers pulled on the blue vest to pit themselves against the elite of British Athletics in the England Athletics’ under-20s’ and u23s’ national championships in Bedford.

In his first national track championships, Jonny Kay raced in the u23s 800m. In a slow and tactical race he found himself towards the back of the field with 200m to go.

Despite a fantastic sprint finish, Kay came an agonising third, missing out on a spot in the final by one place.

In the u23s’ high jump, Chris Mann’s season’s best of 2.05m put him sixth.

Georgia Lever competed in the u20s’ long jump, knowing she would need a new personal best in order to challenge for a medal. In the second round, she recorded her best jump of 5.39m, which earned her 10th position.

Sprinter Hannah Kelly moved up an age group from u17s to compete against the best u20s female sprinters in the country at the 200m.

The 16-year-old was desperate for a fast time to try to gain international selection. Her race strategy was to use the heat as a time trial.

With UK number one Maya Bruney on her inside lane she was really up against it, but a superb bend saw her enter the home straight in a strong second.

Kelly powered through to the finish line and clocked an amazing 24.25, shaving a quarter of a second off her personal best.

In the semi-final, she followed her amazing run in the heat to finish second again in 24.46 and qualify for the final.

Kelly got a fantastic start and came off the bend in third place in the final but the two previous performances, and the heat, took their toll.

Tiring in the last 60m the Bolton youngster finished seventh in 24.71 – a fantastic achievement, particularly given the step up in age category.

The Mason Trophy Inter Counties Schools’ Championships at Birmingham’s Alexandra Stadium also took place last weekend and was the final chance for athletes to achieve the qualifying standard for next month’s prestigious English Schools national championships.

Two Bolton United juniors competed for Greater Manchester against 10 other school counties.

Ben To, fresh from his medal at the County Schools’ Championships, had already made the qualifying mark for the u15s’ boys’ 100m but excelled himself with third place and a new personal best of 11.60.

In the u15s 1500m, Louie Johnson was 10 seconds outside the qualifying time of 4:22 but it was still a creditable showing as the youngest athlete in the field.

Four Harriers – Kelly, Lever, To and 200m sprinter Taiwo Taiwo – have now achieved the English Schools’ qualifying standard in their respective events and will wait to see if they have been selected for the finals.

Elsewhere, Daryl Bentley clocked 44:48 (36th) in the Two Towers Fell Race in Ramsbottom.