Sprinter Seb Tully-Middleton has vowed to bounce back in style from a disappointing weekend at the England Under 20 & 23 Championships.

The 19-year-old, who hails from Culworth, arrived at Bedford’s International Athletic Stadium with high hopes following last year’s under-20 200m triumph.

Now running in the under-23 category, Tully-Middleton warmed up for his signature 200m event with a season’s best 10.93seconds in his 100m heat before finishing sixth in his semi-final.

And the former Chenderit School pupil was looking to build on that success in the 200m, but was left disappointed as he failed to reach the final due to a muscle injury.

He said: “I am disappointed to not make the final because that was my aim coming into this weekend and to not achieve it obviously isn’t great.”

Tully-Middleton is now keeping his fingers crossed that his injury heals in time for him to get out on the track at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham this weekend.

And after suffering heartache in Bedford, the Birchfield Harrier is more determined than ever to demonstrate his abilities in front of some top level sprinters.

“I am desperate to make it to Birmingham,” he added. “The disappointment of Bedford has just strengthened my resolve and I want to show people what I am made of.

“There are going to be some very quick guys down in Birmingham and these are the sort of sprinters you want to be running against to test yourself.

“Hopefully I can make it out there and take a few scalps and beat a few of the bigger names.”

  • Lloyds TSB Local Heroes is an initiative in partnership with SportsAid providing support and funding to over 270 of Britain’s most talented developing athletes on their journey to London 2012 and beyond. To find out more about Lloyds TSB Local Heroes visit www.lloydstsb.com/ localheroes