IN the glory days of Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram, Britain's middle distance runners knew no equal.

Since then, there has been a dearth of young talent coming through to step into their spikes.

Jason Lobo was a youngster coming onto the track scene when the Brits were having their best years.

But while their athletics careers are over he thinks his best years are still to come - and he wants to boost the status of British middle distance runners again at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester this summer.

"I remember when I was 19 I ran an 800m and I got 1 min 45 secs," said the 32-year-old Blackburn Harrier, who also runs for Belgrave Harriers.

"That didn't even get me past the heat stage in the AAA's Championships.

"At the time, Seb Coe ran his 1.41, the world record which wasn't broken for about 20 years, and the rest were running 1:44 and 1:45 regularly. I was ranked 19th in Britain with 1.45 at that time.

"But if I had done that time last year I would have been number one in Britain. The best time last year for a Brit was 1.47.

"That is a problem now. To be best in Britain, you only have to run 1:47. But to be a proper 800m runner I think you need to get at least 1:45 - only with that can you start competing with the rest of the world."

It has been a difficult couple of years for Jason who had hoped to get into the Sydney Olympics but, despite having the qualifying time from the year before, wasn't selected.

And what made it worse was that, by the time the Olympics came round, Jason was sat with his feet up unable to do any running and praying an Achilles injury would clear up.

"I didn't watch too much of the Olympics on television. It does spur you on in some ways but it is like torturing yourself.

"I was disappointed I wasn't selected as I had the time and I would have liked to have given it a go but as it turned out it wouldn't have mattered," said the policeman.

"The injury meant I could do nothing. I had been training with the Kenyans in Australia - all people who have won the Olympics - for seven weeks

"The Kenyans are outstanding and the perception of it is because they train at altitude or because of their genetics.

"But out training with them I realised they achieved what they have because of hard work.

"And what was good for me is that I was up there with them.

"I applied myself like they did and I really improved. I ran one race - an invitation meeting in Melbourne - and I ran 1:50. That was a great time for me in February.

"I was far ahead than I had been any other time at this stage of the year and I felt I could have beat my personal best - but it is all speculation.

"I came back, went to South Africa for a couple of weeks and then started feeling my Achilles.

"When I got home, I had some treatment and then basically had to do nothing for three and a half months. It was so frustrating.

"I had been looking forward to the summer, I was in fantastic shape, and was hoping to get on the track and see what I could do with a good winter behind me - and perhaps prove the Olympic selectors wrong.

"But it wasn't to be and it was awful as I could feel all the fitness ebbing away. It was all going to waste."

Jason was still trying to run a bit but by June accepted defeat.

"I knew I had to knock it on the head but that just made me all the more determined."

He started his comeback last October - and is now ready to go through it all again to build up for this summer.

"I know I have to take it slowly now as I would come up against similar problems. You can't rush things and I have to be cautious.

"But since October I have been back and I am pretty fit again, I'm training once a week on the track at Witton Park but will move it up to two or three sessions soon, and I'm probably doing about 50 miles a week, and will be looking to move that up to about 70.

"For 800m though it is quality rather than quantity and I have to be sure I can handle the training and be careful not to break down.

"I am off to South Africa for winter training at the end of February for about six weeks.

"I will come back in April and then do a few races hopefully be running about 1.46/7 around then and put my name in the frame. Then I'll compete in the trials. I still want to prove I can do it."

At one stage Jason was thinking of making the step up to the 1500m - but he is not sure yet.

"It is just a case of seeing how I feel. I look on myself as an 800m runner.

"To be a 1500m runner, and regard myself as a proper one, I would have to run a 1500m in 3 mins 35 secs. My best time is 3.42 from a bit ago but I will have to see how it goes. A decent time would be 3.40. I haven't done much training over the last 12 months so I am not sure I have got the quality training in I would like to do a 1500.

"But saying that I have had a rest and am training to get fit at the moment so I am on a curve and moving upwards instead of running at the same level, just training to maintain my fitness. I am improving all the time and that is spurring me on.

"But I will only be able to tell over the next few months how far I have come."

The Commonwealth Games is the aim - followed by the European Championships a couple of weeks later. "I am aspiring to be in the best shape and if I get 1.45 in Manchester it should put me in the final and I could get a medal.

"I am not saying I am going to get a medal but I will just concentrate in getting into 1.45 shape, avoid injury, and we'll see what happens."