A NORTH-EAST athlete who was close to giving up the sport two years ago has emerged as one of the UK's most exciting middle distance runners.

Morpeth Harrier Nick McCormick shot to the top of the current British 1500m rankings when he clocked 3 mins 37.66 secs to finish second to the world's leading 800m runner, Australian Craig Mottram at this week's Gothenburg Grand Prix.

McCormick's time, which improved his personal-best by two seconds, was only one-and-a-half seconds outside the World Championships qualifying time and inside the mark required for the Commonwealth Games.

Now his coach, Lindsay Dunn, believes his 24-year-old protg can run even faster as he prepares for next month's AAA Championships and Trials in Manchester.

McCormick, who used to run for Tynedale Harriers, has responded superbly to Dunn's direction, and is benefiting from three weeks' training at altitude in Boulder, Colorado six weeks ago.

But he came very close to hanging up his spikes before linking up with his Chester-le-Street adviser.

Dunn explained: "He was on the verge of quitting two years ago because he was so frustrated at getting injured so often and not making any real progress.

"But I have seen a tremendous improvement and I think there is still a lot more to come.

"I give him lots of steady running rather than hammering his training out.

"Not only has he responded he picks up fewer injuries.

"It is a question now of finding out what training suits him best and go on from there. But we seem to have hit on the right formula at the moment."

Dunn is trying desperately to get McCormick into a couple of fast races abroad before he lines up for the Commonwealth Games and World Championships trial.

"It is very difficult getting into the top races abroad, but we have to sit down, look at the calendar and try to get him in.

"He is at the stage now where he needs to get into fast races."

Since returning from altitude training McCormick, a full time athlete, has won the North-East 800m championship, a 3000m British Endurance race in a personal-best 7 mins 56 secs, and last Saturday ran his fastest-ever 800m in 1:48.25 at the Watford Grand Prix, beating some of Britain's top two-lap runners.

"The Gothenburg race was the first he has lost since last summer, but there was no shame coming second to Craig Mottram - he is currently the fastest 5K runner in the world and is in tremendous form," said Dunn.

* Sunderland Harrier Dave Robertson, the winning veteran in last week's Blaydon Race, returns to marathon running in Blackpool tomorrow.

The 43-year-old Washington hotel porter, who won the London Marathon veterans' championship in 2002, limped to the bronze medal the following year and has not raced over the classic distance since.

But his training of over 90 miles a week has gone well and Robertson said: "I'm hoping to run close to my marathon best of 2:26:08 from five years ago."

* Durham University students will be seeking to repeat last year's double team triumph in tomorrow's popular Newton Aycliffe 10K, with Raby Castle 10K winner Aiveen Fox one of the favourites to take the women's title.

* Morpeth Harrier Terry Wall, boosted by his third consecutive victory in the Sunderland Sport in the Parks Race at Ryhope in midweek, will defend his men's title.

The race starts at 10am and late entries will be accepted at the Greenfield Community and Arts College.

* Middlesbrough and Cleveland Harrier Johanna Jackson will defend her title in the 5000m walk in today's North of England Track and Field Championships at Manchester.

Stockton-based Sudanese teenager Rabah Yusuf, the North-East champion, defends his 400m title after a fine victory in the Bedford International Games last Saturday in 47.1 secs.