FOR a runner making his debut indoors, Swindon Harrier Will Crisp really hit the boards running, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 17-year-old from Hinton Parva, near Wanborough, scorched around the four laps at Lee Valley to win heat three of the London Indoor Games in a time of 1minute 55.51seconds.

To put that time into perspective, it was not only just 0.81 off his outdoor best set last summer – suggesting he could go well under that this year – but also good enough to lift him straight to 10th in the UK U18 men’s rankings.

Crisp’s coach Bryan Clinton said: “Will has never run indoors before so I just said to him, go there, enjoy yourself and see what happens.

“In the week before, he had a slight Achilles tendon niggle so had a few days off and just rode his bike, so I wasn’t expecting too much.”

Crisp has always had the ability to produce his best in competition and over the tight 200m banked laps, got his tactics spot on.

“Another runner went off like a lunatic for the first 300m and then the wheels came off,” added Clinton.

“Will sat in and went through 400 metres in 57seconds and then kept his form well. I think afterwards, he was thinking this indoors lark is easy but there will be tougher races ahead.

“But that was a very good run.”

Crisp will be back indoors at the Midland Counties Championships in Birmingham next weekend and then to Sheffield at the end of the month for the England Athletics U20 Championships.

But as always, the goal will be to prepare for the summer season and this year Crisp will be hoping to be in contention for one of the places on the Great Britain team for the European U20 Championship in Italy.

“I think the qualifying standard will be 1:51/52 but Will is going to have to run much faster than that to have a chance of making the team,” explained Clinton.

“The standard of 800m running is very high for juniors so he may need to run 1:48/40 to be in contention.”