CHRIS Hart and Laura Finucane have set qualifying times for the European Junior Championships at the British Milers Club Nike Grand Prix fixture at Solihull.

Hart's event, the 3,000 metres steeplechase, was the first race of Saturday night, which started breezy and not conducive to fast times, yet he set a massive personal best of 8:58.47 lowering his time from 9:24.3.

Blackburn Harriers' long standing club record, set by Bob Groves back in 1982, fell to the 19-year-old Northern Champion.

A key factor in his performance was the high standard of the race. He was the youngest competitor and was against some of the best seniors in the country -- three of which achieved the Commonwealth Games Standard of 8:40.

Hart was chasing nine minutes, and was tiring over the last 600 metres, but found a sprint finish after the last water jump to dip under his target.

National Steeplechase coach and former Olympic steeplechase bronze medallist Mark Rowland has indicated that Hart would probably win selection for the Europeans if he misses the Norwich Union AAAs Championships at Bedford, but he has decided to run because of the prospect of winning a National title. It's a brave decision because if he is defeated he surely won't be chosen for the Games in Kaunas, Lithuania, from July 21-24.

Finucane's 2:04:02 in the 800 metres took her to the top of the European Junior Rankings, yet it was less of a revelation than Hart's performance as she had already met the qualifying standard when winning the Northerns in 2:04.36. In fact, the 18-year old Pendle star heads the UK Under 20 Rankings in both the 400m and 800m.

She was in familiar company in her race as she placed fifth, flanked by Preston Harrier Helen Clitheroe fourth in 2:03:02, and former Park High School athlete Catherine Rile, sixth in 2:04:72.

Chorley Harrier Vicky Gill was another to make a mark finishing second in the women's 5,000 metres to Eleanor Baker in 16:03.00.

Blackburn Harriers Matt Wood and Ben Fish lowered their personal bests, with 18-year old Wood clocking 1:51.82 for 800m and Fish recording 14:30.68 for 5,000 metres. There were also competitive times in the 800m for Harriers' Nick Samuels with 1:52.41 and 43-year old veteran Phil Hall with 2:01.31.

Meanwhile, Blackburn Harriers' juniors were holding the fort at Witton Park, replacing Macclesfield at the top of the Young Athletes League as they won their latest match in Division 1 West.

There were many fantastic performances and personal bests, and club spokesman Richard Taylor paid tribute to the club debutants.

"They performed really well and can only get better with training and competition experience," he said.

Beth Highton of Burnley was the Girls' Field Athlete of the Match in the Young Athletes League Meeting at Hyndburn, the under 15 clearing 1.45 metres in the high jump. Highton also won the 75m hurdles in a Grade 3 12.5 seconds while Chris Wall won the under 15 hammer with 27.91m and Phil Hayton took the under 17 400m in 54.6 seconds.

However, Burnley were thin in numbers due to the holidays. Hosts Hyndburn swept to victory to consolidate their position at the top of Division 2 North West.

Their stars on the day were the girls, with under 13 Zoe Rawcliffe winning the 75 metres, 150 metres and long jump and also being a quarter of the winning 4x100m relay team. The under 15s had Leigh Lennon setting Grade 2 times as she won the 300m and 800m in 43.4 and 2:21.6 respectively while top gun for the under 17s was Sophie Hart.

Her triple included successes in the 100m, 200m and long jump. Elsewhere, Clitheroe athlete Anna Griffiths competed in her first UK Women's League fixture for Wigan Harriers at Wavertree, Liverpool.

Once again she exceeded the English Schools Entry Standard as she won the B string 400 metres hurdles, an event for which the Lancashire Schools selectors have not chosen her.