Southend Athletic Club's James McLean has continued his recent run of success by breaking another national hurdles record.

With fellow Greensward School, Hockley, pupil Matthew Tong having to pull out through injury, he received a late call up to compete for Essex at the South Of England Inter-Counties Championship in Abingdon, Oxford.

James had less than 24 hours to prepare for the competition, but he still managed to rise to the occasion and produced an outstanding time of 11.16 seconds in the boys' under 15 80 metre hurdles - finishing an extremely close second to an older athlete from Middlesex in the final.

His performance has now ensured that he tops the all time list for 80m hurdles for under-14s.

He's already the fastest 75m hurdler for an athlete aged 13 and under.

His final performance of a fine outdoor season is due this coming weekend when he will compete in Birmingham at the AAA National Age Group Championships.

Published Friday August 13, 2004

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