CALLUM McCormick stormed to number one in the North West in his age group as Leigh Harriers enjoyed a hugely successful first match in the Mid Lancs Track And Field League season.

McCormick ran a perfect race, recording a personal best of 1:59.9 in the under 17s 800m, ranking him among the top 20 in the UK.

It is the first time in five years an under 17s athlete has run a sub-two minute 800m in the league – and McCormick celebrated by going on to win the 1500m too.

Harriers’ standing in UK athletics was also consolidated by Keely Hodgkinson. Despite an increasingly strong wind, her personal best of 4.58.1 in the under 13s 1500m meant she not only broke the club record, but now sits second in the UK and first in the North West rankings.

With Eve Williams winning the under 15s 800m and Ben McLaughlin continuing his fine form with an under 13s 800m victory – both in personal best times – Harriers were given a fine platform for an impressive points’ haul, which was strengthened by encouraging performances from Josef Short, Kyle Jones, Sanna McLean, Sabrina Shaw, David Atkinson and Jake Knox.

“Some of the Leigh team were competing for the first time and discovered just what a learning curve a league season is,” said Harriers coach Margaret Galvin.

“Every one of them had to battle hard against the weather, especially in the latter races of the day, but it was a very promising start.”