TWO of the youngest athletes, Sophie Hitchon and Robbie Schofield, left some of the most favourable impressions at the McCain Loughborough International last Sunday.

The annual fixture gives an early season opportunity for up and coming athletes to measure their progress against the established stars as teams representing Great Britain U20s, Great Britain students and Loughborough students clashed with full international squads representing England, Scotland and Wales.

Hitchon, the 17-year-old Blackburn Harrier, made the most of her chance against Great Britain number one Zoe Derham to break her own UK U20 women’s hammer record, raising it by another 41 centimetres to 62.96 metres.

Just one more centimetre would have taken her a full five metres clear of the next best by a British U20.

As Derham and the Irish competitor Eileen O’Keefe both cleared 67 metres, Hitchon was fourth in a class field where the top six exceeded 60 metres.

Ribble Valley’s in-form Schofield responded in the most positive manner to his first Great Britain call-up by lowering his personal best in the 800 metres for the second time in a fortnight.

The 18-year-old had been selected for the GB U20s after hitting the top of the Power of 10 National Rankings at the British Milers Club ‘Personal Best Classic’ meeting is held at Millfield – a due reward for travelling all the way to Somerset to race.

On Sunday, he cut his time again from 1:50.73 to 1:50.57 to retain his place at the head of the listings, and he needed the improve-ment as one of his rivals clocked 1:50.63 at the same meeting. Schofield was fourth behind senior Damien Moss, while Universities’ champion Paul Bradshaw from Blackburn Harriers was eighth in 1:51.36.

Leigh Lennon was also winning her first Great Britain vest following a brisk 2:07.92 for 800m at Millfield, but having gone second in the U20 Power of 10 list, she was overlooked for the individual race in favour of the top rated Rowena Cole.

However she was selected for the 4x400m relay and was also offered a spot in the guest 800m.

Unfortunately, the relay team failed to finish, but she returned 2:08.91 for fifth in her 800m, and the Ribble Valley teenager will have plenty to celebrate this week with her 18th birthday tomorrow.

Ten years ago, Cath Riley won the Junior Indoors AAAs 800m title for Park High School Athletic Club in Colne, but now aged 26 she represents Trafford and on Sunday won the women’s 1500m at Loughborough in exactly 4:18.

Maybe one day Sam Yates will emulate her. At 16, Yates is still too young for the meeting, but he was at Millfield earlier with his Ribble Valley club mates where he reduced his best in the 800m to 1:58.26 seconds to go fourth in the U17 national rankings.