Holly Bleasdale and Sophie Hitchon today start their campaigns at the IAAF World Junior Championships as genuine medal contenders.

Hammer thrower Hitchon is the women’s captain of the Aviva Great Britain and NI Team at Moncton in Canada.

The Blackburn Harrier, who turned 19 last week, is in prime form with victory in the Bauhaus Junioren Gala at Mannheim earlier this month to her credit, and her UK U20 National Record of 65.98 metres set in May is within a metre of the world leader.

Bleasdale, still 18, is the UK U20 record holder in the pole vault, and beat her own mark again very recently when finishing second in the Aviva European Trials and UK Senior Championships with 4.35 metres.

Also a member of Blackburn Harriers, she is ranked in a podium position in her event while Sophie is rated fourth. Both women will be in their qualifying rounds today with their finals taking place on Saturday.

l The amazing Ken Taylor, of Rossendale Harriers, was the winning over 60 in the latest round of the English Fell Championship at Holmfirth.

l Graeme Ballard scored a sprint double at the Gateshead Disability Athletics Challenge, winning the 100 metres in 12.52 seconds and the 200m in 25.76 seconds.

l English Schools’ champion Michaela Brindle has finished fifth in the girls’ long jump at the Schools’ International match at Scotstoun Stadium. The Chorley schoolgirl had a best leap of 5.50 metres.