Outstanding Basildon AC athlete Kim Wall, although only 21, can be said to have turned back the years.

She produced a great win at the Norwich Union European trials and AAA Championships, where she counted established international Catherine Murphy among her victims.

Kim was a star sprinter during the 90s and won a host of golds at English Schools and AAA age group level with her finest success coming with a bronze in the 2001 European Junior Championships 400 metres.

She clocked 53.52 to finish just behind team-mate Lisa Miller, but the combination of studies and several illnesses - most notably a bout of glandular fever, has kept her out of the headlines for a few years.

But, under the guidance of coaches Nick Dakin and Adam Beard, the Loughborough University student has built up her strength this winter.

And this was certainly evident in Sunday's big race - her first of the year.

Former Commonwealth Games and world indoors finalist Murphy burst through the first 200m in 24.37, but the 29-year-old Sheffield born runner began to tire and Wall surged past her rival in the final straight to win in 53.45.

Frustratingly, Kim's time was five hundredths of a second outside the European qualifying mark.