KENDAL athlete Alex Birkett bagged himself a bronze in the U20 800m National Championships and World Junior Trials.

Birkett, 18, (pictured), just lost out on the silver medal after a battle on the home straight in a high calibre field which included the Junior Commonwealth Champion, who went on to win, and the silver medallist from the European Junior Championships who came second. The Kendal College student has been invited by British Athletics to take part in the senior British Championships in Birmingham. Birkett is affiliated with Kendal Amateur Athletic club but trains at Preston with coach Helen Clitheroe.