Lawson grabs 10k silver on day one of European Juniors

 SIMON Lawson has captured Great Britain's first medal of the European Junior Championships by romping to 10,000m silver in Novi Sad, Serbia.     

The 19-year-old from Cardiff, who was crowned England under-20 champion in Bedford last month over 5000m, crossed the line in 30:35.62 minutes as gold went to Azerbaijan's Hayle Ibrahimov.

"Coming here and taking a medal is great. I think more athletes should run 10k, but I know they can be discouraged from doing it.

"I'm running about 100 miles a week and yes I may burn out but you don't know unless you try.

"What's the point of running 1500m races until you're 26 or 27, by then it could be too late. Just get out there and do it - that's what I'm about!"

While that was Team GB's only medal on the opening day, there were a number of good performances, including the men's 100m trio all booking their place in the final.

Eugene Ayanful and Andrew Robertson both advanced to the final as second and third fastest qualifiers respectively, while Max Galliers also crept through, having finished second in his semi final.

In the women's 100m, Torema Dorset also safely progressed to the final as she clocked 11.88 seconds in her semi.

Meanwhile, England under-20 400m champion Chris Clarke was in impressive form and is well placed to capture a medal after crossing the line first in both his heat and his semi final.

And he will be joined by fellow one-lapper Louis Persent in the final, after the Colchester Harrier came home in 47.29 secs in his semi final.

Elsewhere, Daniel Gardiner is poised to capture a decathlon medal, having accumulated 3293 points from the first five events in Serbia.

The Leeds-based athlete made a superb start and picked up three consecutive personal bests in the 100m, the long jump and the shot put.

Gardiner clocked 10.97 secs before leaping 7.47m and throwing 15.07m but struggled in the final two events of the day.

The 19-year-old could only manage equal 15th in the high jump and sixth in the 400m but still lies second, just 14 points off the lead.

"I'm pleased with today - I'm up there with the big boys," he added. "The high jump was good, I was just a few centimetres off my recent PB of 1.93m so I'm happy with that.

"The guy who won the high jump should have competed this morning in the individual event! But it's ok as it makes it more interesting, I'm looking forward to tomorrow and giving it all I've got."