SWINDON Harriers coach Bryan Clinton will be looking for his group of middle distance runners to step up a gear when they line up for the Wiltshire Championships at Tidworth on Sunday, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

Early season results suggest the hard winter training programme is already paying off but Clinton is expecting a lot more as the season ramps up.

“It has been a good start to the season and nice to see so many of the group running personal bests so early on,” said Clinton. “The secret now is to keep those PBs rolling.”

Clinton’s ambitious young group of runners certainly made their mark at the recent British Milers’ Club PB Classic meeting at Millfield School, Somerset, notching up four personal bests.

One of the best came from teenager Elliot Doughty, who won the 800m D race in a time of two minutes 00.83 seconds to slash almost three seconds off his 2016 best and lift him to fifth in the South West Under 17 Rankings.

The Harriers enjoyed a one-two in the race, with Ben McIntyre clocking a PB of 2:03.76.

Also in the 800m rookie, Jack Gunning ran a PB of 2:30.75 to finish fourth in the H race, while in the women’s D race, Sophie Capel clocked PB of 2:26.10 for fifth.

Ethan Pierce also clocked a new best in 4:21.32 to put him 10th in the South West U17 Rankings.

There were several other Harriers’ athletes at the meeting honing their sharpness ahead of the county championships.

In addition to McIntyre’s PB coach Buttle was also delighted to see both Jack Latus (4:37.8) and Dan Patel (4:38.90) record personal bests in the 1500m D race to finish fifth and sixth respectively, with Latus’ time lifting him into the top ten of the South West U15 Rankings.

Three Harriers’ runners coached by John Dill were in action with Rachel Oram (2:33.03) and Harriet Hillman (2:33.08) sixth and seventh in the women’s 800m F race and Lavinia Rai (2:37.69) placing seventh in the G race.

Harriers’ youngster Fetcher Hart also took advantage of the excellent racing conditions, clocking a PB of 2:39.88 to win the mixed 800m I race.