TAVISTOCK discus thrower Edward Fileman will make his Great Britain Under-20 debut at this weekend’s Loughborough International.

Fileman has been named in a strong GB U20 team that will take on England, Scotland, Wales, a Loughborough University select side and a National League team.

The Tavistock athlete, who has previously represented England Schools, recently smashed his PB with a throw of 52.97m.

GB team leader Trevor Painter said, “Loughborough is always an exciting meeting, early in the calendar when we can see how athletes are progressing for the season ahead.

“Many of these athletes have not represented GB&NI before and it’s always an enjoyable phone-call to make, to deliver the good news.

“I look forward to seeing who will rise to the challenge and throw their hat into the ring as we look forward to selecting a Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team Cali (the World U20 Championships).”

Fileman, who is studying at Loughborough University, will be joined in the GB U20 team by his former Devon Schools’ colleague Johnny Livingstone, who will run in the 3,000m.

Meanwhile, Erme Valley Harriers’ Great Britain international Will Battershill ran a season’s best time of 8:47.37 to finish fourth in a high-class 3,000m steeplechase field at the BMC Grand Prix at the weekend.

Battershill, who ran 8:32.92 at the end of last season, was only beaten by GB Olympians Phil Norman and Zak Seddon and Denmark’s Axel Vang Christenson.

At the same meeting, Tavistock Run Project’s Oliver Smart clocked 3:55.11 in the men’s 1,500m, which was less than a second off his PB and ranks him in the UK’s top 25 at under-20 level.

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