JASON Lobo ran an impressive 49.6 seconds for the 400m at Blackburn Harriers Open Meeting in what may be his only local track appearance of the summer.

After the race, which he treated as a time trial, the former Blackburn Harrier told me that he felt his training was slightly ahead of last year as he builds towards his defence of the AAA's 800m title at the end of July.

The season's preparations started for Jason in South Africa where he spent a month in the spring enjoying warm weather training with England colleagues Andy Hart and Mark Sesay. During their stay they ran for England in an international against South Africa. After his return he ran for his club Belgrave in the European Clubs championship in Athens, a competition between the National Club champions of Europe. Selected for the 800m, he finished fourth. Two weeks ago he ran a 1500m in Manchester in a time that ranks him in the top six in the country.

Until the AAA's, Jason intends to concentrate on the 800m. Following his run in Blackburn, he competed in an international 800m in Cork at the weekend. He finished fifth, but of the British contingent only Curtis Robb beat him. Next week he runs the same distance in Zurich. After that, he hopes to receive a call from the England selectors to run in Budapest. The ultimate aim for this summer is September's World Championships in September, the team will be selected after the AAA's.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.