BOLTON steeplechaser Stuart Stokes is now Britain's number one.

The 25-year-old took over at the top of the national rankings when he beat former best Brit Ben Whitby.

Stokes, number two last season, hit top spot when he finished second to a Kenyan runner in the Aqua-Pura international at Loughborough on Saturday.

He left Whitby a massive 11 seconds behind as he continued to confirm himself as far and away the best steeplechaser in the country.

The performance, which was given national coverage as part of BBC 1's live screening of the opening international of this season's outdoor season, sets Stokes up perfectly for the Commonwealth Games trials which take place at the City of Manchester Stadium on June 15 and 16.

Barring a calamity he is virtually guaranteed one of the three places available in the England team as he is the host country's fastest steeplechaser by far and one of only two to have run the qualifying time of 8mins 41seconds, the other being Whitby who got the time last season.

Stokes, who has spend two months out of the last four training at altitude in Morocco with some of the world's best athletes, also dipped under the time last season - by a huge eight seconds - but he says Saturday's run at Loughborough was good for his confidence.

"I'm now the British number one after that race and that sets me up brilliantly confidence-wise going into the trials," said Stokes, a special needs assistant at Withins School whose support in allowing him time off to train has been essential in enabling him to prepare properly for the Commonwealth Games.

"I've got one more race now, at Wythenshawe on Monday week, before the trials when I should qualify for the England team unless I have an absolute nightmare."