RORY Howorth finally cracked the two-minute barrier for the first time as he scorched to victory at the Midland Counties Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

Judging his tactics just right in a close contest with Bridgnorth’s Oliver Carvell in the final of the U17 men’s 800m, the Hilperton runner burst clear to win in a time of 1 minute 59.02 seconds to slice 1.52 seconds off his 2016 best, set on his England debut in December.

Just to underline Howorth’s all-round talents, he also cleared a personal best of 1.70m to finish fourth in the high jump.

It was one of two golds won by Team Bath AC athletes, with GB junior international Anna Burt, of Peasedown St John, winning the U17 women’s 800m.

Burt front ran the 800m and won convincingly with an indoor PB of 2:07.17, having run a steady 2:19.92 in her qualifying heat.

There was also a double success for St Laurence School (Bradford on Avon) student Jenna Blundell as she won silver in the U17 women’s 200m and bronze in the 60m hurdles.

In an action-packed programme, Blundell, who lives in the village of Staverton, completed five races in one hectic day and on route to winning silver in the 200m, posted a scintillating PB of 25.79 in the semi-finals as she broke 26 seconds for the first time.

In the sprint hurdles, she clocked 8.96 for third, just outside her PB.

There were many other PB performances set over the weekend.

Femi Akinbobola qualified for the semi-finals of the U17 men’s 200m with a PB of 23.68. Akinbobola also set a PB of 9.57 in the 60m hurdles.

Southwick’s Joel Mattacks set a PB in his 200m heat with 27.12 and also ran a PB of 8.22 in his heat of the 60m.

Sister Zoe Mattacks set season’s bests in the U20 women’s 60m with 8.17 and 9.81 in the 60H and Melksham Oak School’s Jordan Earley ran 7.51 in the heats of the U20 men’s 60m.

In the U20 men’s 400m, Hilperton twins John and Robert Howorth set personal bests of 52.69 and 53.84 respectively.

Mia Bates ran very well in her heat of the U15 girls’ 60m hurdles to qualify for the final in 10.02.