BASINGSTOKE and Mid Hants sprinter Kieran Showler-Davis has his sights set on a place at the World Junior Championships after producing a fine run at the Loughborough International.

The 18-year-old, running for Great Britain’s junior team, won the 200m in 20.85sec – beating opposition from Loughborough Students Athletics Club and senior sides from England, Wales and Scotland.

The time was well inside the qualifying standard for the World Juniors and would have smashed Showler-Davis’ personal best – but a tailwind of 2.2 metres per second makes it illegal.

The sprinter, pictured right, said: “The wind reading was very frustrating but after that, I am pretty sure I can get the world junior qualifying time, which is 21.10sec.

“I was sort of expecting to run 21.10sec or something, but not that fast. To run 20.85, although it was windy, is excellent.

“I am also happy because there were some good athletes in there who I did not expect to beat because they have run quick times. I would have been happy just to get close to them so I was absolutely delighted to win.”

Sunday’s race at Loughborough was the first time Showler-Davis has pulled on a national vest and he enjoyed the |experience.

“Putting on the GB jersey gives you a bit extra because you feel very proud to be running for the country,” he said. “It certainly gave me a bit of a buzz, which helped me run a quick time.”

Showler-Davis will be looking to record the qualification time before the World Junior Championship trials, which will take place at Bedford towards the end of June.

In order to make the team for the worlds, which are being held in Canada in July, he must achieve the qualifying time and finish in the first two at the trials.

Showler-Davis added: “From the way I ran this weekend, if I keep injury free I have a good chance of making the team. Hopefully everything will go to plan and I will be on the plane.”