FORMER Great Britain junior international Vince Wilson aims to equal a 70-year-old record by winning the North-East 800m record for an eighth time in the annual track and field championship at Gateshead International Stadium this weekend.

Wilson, once a teenage training partner of Steve Cram under the direction of coach Jimmy Hedley, was unable to devote as much time to athletics while he started up a sportswear business.

Now the 28-year-old Belgrave Harrier is hoping to re-establish himself as one of the North's top middle distance runners.

"I have won the North East 800m championship seven times and I'm quite proud of that," said Wilson, who used to run for Jarrow and Hebburn AC and Morpeth Harriers.

"Only one athlete has won the title more times, back in the 1930s, and I'd love to equal that."

Wilson, a former Northern 800m champion, will be favourite to retain his title, but he will face oppostion from new Morpeth recruit Tom Ranger, who was with Peterborough before moving to Northumbria University, and up-and-coming Sunderland Harrier Malcolm Hassan, who has just returned from the United States, where he is on a sports scolarship.

The 19-year-old Wearsider has made great strides during his two years in America, where he has brought his 800m time down to 1 min 53 secs and has clocked 3.53 for 1500m.

Last year Hassan scored a superb double in the North-East Championships, winning the junior men's 800m and 1500m titles, breaking David Sharpe's two-lap record of 1:52.9, which had stood since 1984.

The championships start at 10.30am on both days.