IT MAY only be seconds but these are separating star athletes Leigh Lennon and Robbie Schofield from the IAAF World Youth Championships.

The Ribble Valley AC runners, both from Hyndburn, are hoping to get the qualifying times to compete in the top competition in the Czech Republic in July.

And the two speedsters are closing in on the times they have to get by 24 June.

Leigh, 15, needs two minutes and nine seconds in the 800m.

She is on course after clocking up 2:13 in the County Athletic Championships in Blackpool at the weekend - leading the field by five seconds - and picking up a gold medal and the Lancashire title in the Under 17 event.

There will be a couple more meetings where Leigh, ranked fourth in the United Kingdom at Under 17 800m, will have the chance to make the time although it may come down to the Senior National Championships in Bedford on 23/24 June.

Robbie is in a similar situation. He won the Under 17s 800m in 1:58 at Blackpool - and needs 1:55 to make the trip to Ostrava in the Czech Republic.

As well as Robbie picking up a gold in his favourite two lap event, he also collected the top spot in the 1500m in Blackpool.

There were four of them competing for pole position at the bell and Robbie raced off to run a 56 second final lap - and leave the rest behind.

"Both have pretty phenomenal times," said coach Don Lennon. "On the day it was windy and the weather was horrendous at times but they both got decent times and gold medals.

"Now we have to hope they get the qualifying times as it will be nerve racking if their final chance to do it is at Bedford on the final qualifying date."

If the pair don't make the Youth Championships, the European Youth Olympic Festival takes place in late July and they can compete there.

The Blackpool competition proved a real boost for Ribble Valley Athletic Club - with many Hyndburn members - which won 12 medals overall.

Robbie got two golds while Leigh got a gold in the 800m and a silver medal in the 300m in 41.6 seconds. Ashleigh Williams smashed her personal best in the women's Under 20 400m coming second in 59.4. She also got a silver medal in the 800m with 2.24.

Joe Basquill had to settle for runners-up spot to Robbie in the Under 17 men 800m with a time of 2.02 and was second in the Under 17s 400m with a personal best of 52.1.

Lauren Westwell also enjoyed a double celebration, clinching two gold medals in her first year competing. She raced to victory in the 1500m in 5.38 while she won the 800m race in 2.43.

In the Under 13 boys, Joe Oldfield was third in the 800m, in his first season, with a personal best of 2.35 - he knocked five seconds off his previous time.

And Sam Yates, in his first track event, was third in the Under 15 boys 1500m.

"It wasn't just about these as we had 30 athletes competing this weekend and they all did really well," added Don.

"To come away with 12 track medals was a huge achievement. Preston usually top the medal table but we got more than them so I am proud."