YOUNG Northallerton athlete Andy Lagan has made a successful start to the track season after a cross-country season dogged by illness and injury.

The 16-year-old 800m runner won in the NYAL for his club Middlesbrough AC and in the area, Yorkshire and inter-county championships for his school, Northallerton College.

He also put up a good performance in the North of England AA Championships at Cudworth with a time of 1:58.00, but was just pipped at the post by Chris Smith.

He then ran a fantastic personal best of 1:54.12 at the British Milers Club at Manchester a week last Tuesday, ranking him number one in the UK at under-17 level.

His next two big competitions are the English Schools this month and the AAAs in August, both in Birmingham