OLYMPIAN Jared Deacon was the fastest 400m runner in Britain for an hour when he set a new record on the opening day of the North-East Championships at Gateshead International Stadium.

And 24 hours later he was only five hundredths of a second away from claiming the 400m hurdles record.

The 26-year-old Tynesider, who competes for Border Harriers, was delighted with his performance in the one lap flat race - but he was kicking himself for missing out on setting a new mark in his new venture over the barriers.

Last year Deacon suffered a shock defeat in the 400m, losing his North-East record to Teessider Neil Jennings.

This time Jennings was a spectator as Deacon took advantage of the near perfect weather conditions to scorch round in a rapid 46.38 secs, clipping over half a second off the record.

It was the fastest time by a Briton this season - until UK number one Chris Rawlinson ran two tenths of a second faster at a meeting in Athens.

Deacon, who was a member of the British 4 x 400m hurdles team in the Sydney Olympics, said: "I was very disappointed to lose last year and when I saw the guy's name on the programme again it made me even more determined to get my record back."

Jennings, who did not defend his title, was one of the first to congratulate Deacon, who has his sights set on winning a place in Britain's European Championships team. Deacon has also widened his athletics horizons by racing over the hurdles, and he was a comfortable winner over Sale's Liam Collins yesterday.

Deacon's time of 50.68 secs was nearly three seconds faster than his personal best, and just short of the championships record.

He said: "I'm delighted to have run my best ever hurdles time but if I had known I was so close to the record I would have given it a bit extra at the end."

Deacon made it a hat-trick of championship gold medals when he retained his 200m title in a time of 22.10 secs, but running into a head-wind he failed to beat the record of 21.19 secs set in 1994 by his elder brother and coach, Dave.

Deacon would like to run in the European Championships for the first time, but he believes that the Commonwealth Games in Manchester might provide him with a higher profile opportunity if he can win selection as an individual instead of being part of a relay squad, which has been the case in the past when he has competed in the Olympic Games and World Championships.

Tyneside-based Border Harrier, Paul Reed, brought his North-East Championships gold medal haul to 50 when he retained his shot (15.22m) and discus (49.30m) titles. And another Border Harrier, former UK junior international Sara Todd claimed four gold medals, winning the senior 100m (12.95 secs), 200m (25.65 secs), 100m hurdles (14.57 secs) and 400m hurdles (60.65 secs).

Gateshead Harrier Titi Ameobi - younger sister of Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi - set a new sprint records in the junior women's 100m (12.81 secs) and 200m (25.29 secs).

Shildon's Khalil Thompson, winner of the London Mini Marathon, completed a fine middle distance double, winning the under-13 800m and 1500m.