WILL Crisp goes in search of a sporting dream in his final appearance at the 86th English Schools’ Track & Field Championships this weekend.

The 18-year-old Swindon Harrier will toe the line for the heats of the senior boys 800m as one of the favourites for a medal, not just because he is currently lying seventh in the UK rankings for U20 men but also because of his ability to consistently deliver his best in major championships.

At the schools’ level that has seen him win a bronze as a junior boy on his debut in 2014 and improve to silver in the senior boys’ 800m 12 months ago.

Both those medals were won on the same Alexander Stadium track in Birmingham that hosts the two-day event starting Friday so that may be a happy omen.

“It would be nice for Will to complete a full set but it is going to be very hard,” said long-time coach and Harriers chairman Bryan Clifton.

“A couple of the lads ahead of him may be missing at the World U20 Championships but there are still some very quick guys in the field so it is going to be very competitive.

“But Will is in good shape and as he proved before he always seems to be able to raise himself for the major championships. He is a good racer with a quick finish and should be in contention for a medal.”

The demands of A levels have curtailed Crisp’s racing programme this summer to just three races but the latest of those was a fine win on duty for the England U20s team at the Intertrust Games in Guernsey.

“We experimented with different tactics there and it worked well so Will is heading to Birmingham feeling confident and in good shape,” added Clifton.

Crisp, who will be running in the colours of Gloucestershire, is one of six Harriers’ athletes in action this weekend. Ben McIntyre, who is coached by Kevin Buttle, joins him in the Gloucestershire squad to run the inter boys’ 1500m steeplechase.

Buttle also has another athlete in the Wiltshire team with Ridgeway School’s Harry Cunningham named to run the junior boys’ 800m on his debut in the event while hard-working St Joseph’s Catholic School sprinter Teresa Iannetelli also makes her debut in her final year at school in the senior girls’ 200m.

Also from the Ridgeway School the Ricketts brothers Josh and Harry will join forces for the first time at the event.

Josh, 17, will be making his second appearance at the English Schools’ having finished 16th in the inter boys’ hammer last year. He has now moved up into the senior age group.

Younger brother Harry is also making his name in the hammer event and the 14-year-old will head to the national championships, which start on Friday, lying third in the UK rankings for U15 boys – with Wiltshire team-mate Owen Merrett from Chippenham in second.

“It is great to see six members of the Swindon Harriers competing at the English Schools’ Championships and reflects well on what we are trying to achieve at the club,” added Clifton.

Also in action for the Wiltshire squad will be Marlborough & District Junior AC sprinter Ophelia Pyle, who is a student at Dauntsey’s School, in the junior girls’ 300m.

Wiltshire squad – Junior boys: Harry Ricketts (hammer); Owen Merrett (hammer); James Viner (hammer); Theo Cochrane (high jump); Omario Henery (100m); Mikael Evloev (shot); Larne Alli (200m); Joe Carter (200m); Rob Jones (800m); Harry Cunningham (800m).

Inter boys - Femi Akinbobla (200m); Thomas Homes (javelin); Rory Howorth (shot).

Senior boys - Robert Howorth and Hayden Bailey (800m); John Howorth (1500m); Sam Roberts (110mH); Jake Burkey (long jump); Charlie Curry (100m); Josh Ricketts (hammer).

Junior girls - Beatrice Wood (1500m); Willa Gibb (75mH); Megan Galpin (javelin); Georgia Clark (shot); Olivia Roderick (1500m); Ophelia Pye (300m).

Inter girls - Molly Hole (high jump); Anna Merritt (hammer); Gabrielle Kirkman (long jump).

Senior girls - Teresa Iannetelli (200m); Jade Littlechild (1500m); Ottilie Knight (javelin).