BOLTON Harrier Paul Freary is in the form of his life and shooting for a top 10 spot in the forthcoming AAAs Championships.

Freary, 28, won the prestigious Inter-Counties title at Bedford when he smashed his own personal best time by seven seconds to win the 5,000m track race in 14-03.

A member of Bolton Harriers for 13 years, Freary qualified for the big event after winning the Greater Manchester title and is now unbeaten in his last 11 races.

He said: "I have had a good run of results and that has helped my confidence. The good form started in the middle of March when I won in the United States and it has gone on from there.

"I think I am in the top 10 in the country but all will be revealed in the AAAs event." That is when the country's top runners will be battling to finish in the top three and gain an Olympic place.

Going to Atlanta may be one step beyond the fast-improving Freary but as he admits: "I have improved by seven seconds and will have to go even quicker but anything can happen in the race."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.