JAMES Shane confirmed his place in the Great Britain team heading to the European under-23 championships in fine style.

The 21-year-old, from Basildon, won the UK under-23 1,500m title in devastating fashion, destroying the field to win in a championship best performance of 3m 40.44s.

The next runner home, Andrew Heyes, from Sheffield, finished more than six seconds down on the Newham & Essex Beagles star on a sweltering second day of the UK championships, which also included the European trials, at Bedford.

Shane, fresh from his third place on his senior GB debut at the European Team Champion-ships, will now set his sights on medalling at the European championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

“I just wanted to win the race,” admitted Shane, a former pupil at Mayflower School, Billericay.

“I was a bit worried coming off such a high in Stockholm (at the European Team Championships) because at times after a performance like that I have crashed, but I really focused and knuckled down.

“I ran the race on my own and it’s given me a boost of confidence. Actually, it’s given me another boost of confidence. I just keep getting them this season.”

The championships in Ostrava take place between July 14 and 17th.

Elsewhere, Basildon AC’s Gemma Kersey was left with mixed feelings in the under-20 women’s 1,500m.

The 19-year-old finished fourth overall in a race won comfortably by Aldershot and Farnham’s Georgia Peel.

But Kersey, who ran a personal best time of 4m 26.75s, was beaten into third place by New Zealand’s Rebekah Greene, who was guesting at the race.

Despite Greene not qualifying for Britain, she was still awarded the bronze medal, much to the frustration of Kersey.

“I was quite angry and asked the officials but they said it was an open meet and she was entitled to the medal.”

For a full round-up of our athletes performances at the UK under-20/under-23 championships, see Friday’s Echo.