FIFTEEN-years-old Tashon Gallagher's dream start to a promising athletics career continued on Saturday when he booked his place in the schools' "Olympics" -- just a month after taking up the sport seriously.

County champion Tashon, who only bought a pair of running shoes in May, represented Greater Manchester schools in an Inter Counties match at Birmingham's impressive Alexander Stadium.

The up-and-coming sprint star ran the race of his life against the cream of the counties to slice a second off his best 400m time.

Tash, of Lowton, needed to clock 51.4sec to qualify for the English Schools' championships next month and in a blanket finish stopped the clock on 50.9sec to be awarded third spot.

He will now be included in the Greater Manchester squad heading for Sheffield to take on the best of England's young athletes.

And he also has the honour of being the first student to represent his school, Burnage High, in these championships.

Thirteen-years-old Lauren Howarth, also in a county vest and with a qualifying time already under her belt, took fourth place in the junior girls' 1500m clocking 5min 3.5sec in a top class field.

In the inter boys' 3000m Tom Boardman was unlucky not to reach the qualification time of 9min 03sec finishing fourth in 9min 10sec.

Leigh Harriers' super vet Derek Howarth ran his fastest 10k road race of the season to take the Northern Vets 070s title at Clitheroe in 42min 42sec.