A TALENTED athlete is on track to future glory after taking gold in his favourite discipline.
Runner Josh Allen, of Nunthorpe, topped the podium after taking the 800m gold in the Northern Indoor Championships.
The 18-year-old student at Stokesley School is building a successful cache of trophies including the bronze in the 800m he won running for Team England at the Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas last year.
With a personal best of 1.50.5, he is under the constant scrutiny of national scouts as he strives to improve is 11th place ranking among U20s athletes across the country.
Josh, who is also studying A levels at Stokesley School with a view to reading bio-medicine at university, is training hard for the National Indoor Track Championships, due to be staged at Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, next month.
A member of Middlesbrough Mandale Athletics Club, Josh first discovered his talent for running when he was in Year 6.
He hopes one day to be selected by Team GB and dreams of competing at the 2020 Olympics or 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“I love running and being on the track,” said Josh, who is coached by Martin Peevor and trains with British sprinter Richard Kilty.
“It was amazing travelling to the Bahamas with Team England, to wear the official kit and to work with national coaches, physios and doctors.
“I run about 40 miles a week, on the track, grass, the road and cross country, including the moors. My future is about going head to head with other athletes, running to a consistently high standard and achieving the qualifying times.”
Head of PE Darren Beattie said: “Josh is such a great athlete, absolutely committed to his discipline, but humble despite being a genuine talent. He employs this same dedication to his studies and is a great role model in school.”