BRITAIN'S fastest 1500m runner of the summer, Nick McCormick, races in Cork today as he continues his impressive build-up to next weekend's Norwich Union World Trials and AAA Championships in Manchester, writes Frank Johnson.

The 23-year-old Morpeth Harrier finished sixth in a top international field in Prague this week and while his time was just over a second slower than last month's 3 mins 37.66 secs which shot him to the top of the UK rankings, coach Lindsay Dunn believes his protg is gearing up nicely for next week's big test.

"The race in Prague will have done him the world of good in terms of experience," said Dunn.

"The pace was up and down and he was knocked from pillar to post but it was a real learning curve for him.

"It was the first time that he'd been in a race where the majority of the other runners were quicker than him - there were some world-class athletes out there.

"It was very hot and some of the guys in the race had run 3:35 this summer. Nick did very well - he beat the 2002 world junior champion and the current Spanish champion.

"I am delighted with the progress he has made this summer.

"If Nick does make the World Championships team he will need this sort of experience behind him - it was his first really big race."

Now the North-East 800m champion will race in an IAAF permit meeting in Cork, seeking to bring his personal-best down towards the World Championships qualifying time of 3:36.20.

McCormick is benefiting from three weeks spent training at altitude in Boulder, Colorado, at the end of April. Since returning he has improved his personal best times over 5000m, 1500m and 800m.

One of his main rivals in Manchester next weekend, Michael East, is the only UK athlete with the World Championship qualifying time but has not had a major race this summer because of injury.

* Redcar's Johanna Jackson will be favourite to win the 5000m walk in today's AAA Under-23 Championships in Bedford, where she won the UK Inter Counties title in May.

Also seeking selection for the European Under-23 Championships in Erfurt, Germany (July 14-17) are Elswick's Ryan McCleod (5000m) and Wearside's North-East champion Mark Christie (Sale), who competes in the pole-vault.