Batten and Clowes on form again in Finland

From  Nick Clowes in Tampere

 JENNIE BATTEN'S dream of a European Youth Olympic Festival golden hat-trick is still alive after the sprinter helped Team GB reach the 4x100m final in Finland.

The 16-year-old already has one gold to her name after topping the podium in the 100m on Tuesday and will start as favourite in the 200m final on Friday after setting the fastest time in qualifying.

The Stroud and District AC member ran the anchor leg as GB's girls completed their 4x100m heats in 47.12 - coming home third with Holland and Germany taking first and second respectively.

And after sealing her team final spot Batten immediately set her sights on more individual gold.

"I feel really good after the rest I have had," said Batten. "I'm really confident now. I've got the fastest time for the 200m on paper.

"I'm just going to go out and run a fast race and hopefully go under 24 seconds again."

And Batten is not the only sprinter on the hunt for medals in Finland. Crewe and Nantwich AC star Liam Clowes won his 200m semi-final - then declared he had plenty left in the tank ahead of Friday's final.

The 16-year-old was only a fraction off his personal best in the semi-final with a time of 21.65 seconds in Tampere.

Clowes suffered heartache when he finished fourth in Tuesday's 100m final but insists he will not let lightning strike twice at the Ratina Stadium.

"I feel good and that confident that I can run a good time," said Clowes.  "I definitely want to be in the top three and I am confident I can do it."

Elsewhere, in the boy's high jump Joe Kent missed out on a bronze medal by just three centimetres.  

17-year-old Kent bettered his PB by two cm to record 2.11m but it wasn't enough as Janick Klausen  of Denmark took bronze.

Laura Burke  finished sixth in the girls 400m hurdles final while Georgia Atkins ended up fifth in the girls 100m hurdles final.

The British Olympic Association selects, runs and manages Team GB at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It promotes the Olympic Movement, enhances athlete success and develops Olympic sports in the UK - www.olympics.org.uk  http://twitter.com/Team_GB