Broadstairs runner Hadley Pressley is making a name for himself in the fast growing sport of Street Athletics, which is run by former Olympic champions Linford Christie and Darren Campbell.

The 17-year-old qualified from local heats in Thanet and regional finals in Folkestone to represent the area in the grand final in Manchester.

Street Athletics is a series of community focussed events throughout the UK where all youngsters are invited to race against each other over 60m, and Hadley has impressed with qualifying times of 7.71 seconds.

So keen is he to improve his performance, he can often be seen training in local parks, running with weights on his legs and a small parachute trailing behind him to create resistance to help him build stamina and speed.

Hadley said: "Street Athletics is great. The whole idea is that it is open to anyone and it is about building athletics at grass roots level."

A member of Ashford Amateur Athletic Club, he has his sights set on stepping up his race distance to 100m and hopes to one day represent his county and then his country.

A determined runner, he is the record holder in the 100m, 200m and long jump at St George’s School, Broadstairs, where he is in the sixth form.

The Street Athletics website says: “The ultimate aim is that all kids from all areas feel welcome to actively take part, providing the opportunity to broaden their existing horizons within sport and other non-sports related areas."

Olympic, World , European and Commonwealth gold medal winning athletes Christie and Campbell share the same vision, to break down the significant barriers which prevent youngsters from believing in their own talents and not having the confidence in their futures to set even the smallest ambitions.

The athletes said: "We believe that sport can play a huge part in engaging young people that reflects positively in other areas of their lives."

St George’s principal Keith Rumblo added: "Hadley is a really fast runner and a good athlete. We are behind his bid to do well at the sport."