SUNDERLAND Harrier Malcom Hassan, one of the region's brightest middle-distance prospects, has decided to turn his back on a season ravaged by illness to start a new career in college athletics in the United States.

And before setting off to take up an athletics scholarship at Utah University the 18-year-old signed off by writing his name in the club record books.

Hassan, who was forced to pull out of what would have been his last English Schools Championships last month after winning the county title, bounced back to top form in the British Milers' Club 800m by running his fastest ever two laps, clocking 1 mins 50.7 secs, erasing the longstanding Sunderland Harriers junior club record of 1:51.3 set by former international Kelvin Newton.

The 1999 AAA Under-17 1,500m title holder and British Schools champion erased former triple Steve Cram's North-East Championships 800m record and was regarded as the region's most exciting young middle-distance prospect since the former triple world record holder.

But Hassan was hit by a mystery illness after a family holiday in Portugal two years ago which dramatically halted his athletics progress.

And the teenager feared he had ruined his hopes of winning a college scholarship in America when he was forced to drop out of the US High School Indoor Championships in Manhattan after again being hit by the chest problem.

But now he is hoping that he has finally turned his back on the illness.

He said: "I was really pleased with my 800m time after all the problems I've had this summer.

"At last I've done what I knew I was capable of - and I know there is a lot more to come."

* Morpeth Harrier Jared Deacon and Mandale's Neil Jennings have been chosen for the 400m and relay in an international against France at Ashford on Saturday. Chris Tomlinson, former English Schools triple gold medallist also of Mandale, will compete in the long jump in an Under 23 international at the same venue.

* North-East athletics has been saddened by the death of Bill Garrett, a leading official for many years, at the age of 77. The former RAF pilot was one of the region's few grade one track and field judges and was secretary of the North of England Women's Cross Country Championships, having held the same post for North-East track and field and road running