A STRONG contingent of young athletes from Durham University will take part in tomorrow's Newton Aycliffe 10K.

The keen road runners were out in force two weeks ago in the Raby Castle 10K, when 19-year-old psychology undergraduate Avine Fox, of Morpeth Harriers, won the women's race and another student, Kevin Fairbank, finished fourth in the men's event.

The students tomorrow tackle the popular Newton Aycliffe race, which always attracts some of the North-East's top runners. Previous winners have included Great Britain internationals Brian Rushworth (Sunderland Harriers) and Stewy Bell (Chester-le-Street).

Last year's men's race was won by Durham City baker Terry Wall, who, in the past, has won several of the region's road-race titles, including the half-marathon championship, which he claimed at Redcar in March.

Wall had hoped to break 31 minutes last year but was beaten by the uncomfortably hot conditions, clocking 32 mins 14 seconds - 78 seconds faster than his nearest rival.

Another winner at Redcar, Darlington Harrier Bernadette Taylor, will be going for a hat-trick of victories tomorrow. Late entries will be accepted before the race (10am start) at the Greenfield Community and Arts College, with the 3K fun run off at 9.15am.

* Durham, Northumberland and Cleveland Schools will be staging their annual track and field championships today, with the region's best young athletes trying for the qualifying marks which will earn selection for next month's English Schools Championships at Gateshead International Stadium.

l Fani Halkia was the star of the second day at the Greek National Championships in Athens.

Halkia, a surprise finalist in the 400 metres at the World Indoor Championships, broke the Greek 400m hurdles record for the second time in the same day.

Halkia quit an undistinguished athletics career two years ago to concentrate on a life in sports journalism but she was persuaded to make a comeback.

She ran 56.03 seconds in her heat before lowering it to a world-class mark of 54.88secs in the final in the Olympic Stadium.

Athens 2004 organising committee president, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, praised both Halkia's performance and the organisation of the first two of the three-day test meeting for August's Games.

''I'm very satisfied at what is happening,'' said Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.

''What we are seeing is a good experience for our preparations in hosting an excellent Olympics in a very safe environment.''