LOUIS Persent, of Colchester Harriers AC, won a European gold medal when competing for Great Britain & Northern Ireland in the 4x400m final at the European Junior Championships, staged in Hengelo, Holland, last weekend.

LOUIS Persent, of Colchester Harriers AC, won a European gold medal when competing for Great Britain & Northern Ireland in the 4x400m final at the European Junior Championships, staged in Hengelo, Holland, last weekend.

Persent was part of the team that eased its way comfortably into Sunday's final. He ran the third leg in 47.4secs, and was just as quick on the same leg in the final.

The team finished second, but last leg runner Jordan McGrath (Birchfield Harriers) was obstructed by the Polish athlete, resulting in the Great Britain team management lodging a protest to the officials.

After a long arbitration period, they ruled in Great Britain's favour with the team promoted to first place.

McGrath actually had to go for medical treatment for spike marks on his right thigh after the race.

The other two team members were Nigel Levine (Bedford & County AC) and Robert Davis (Birchfield).

Persent enthused: “That's the best race I've ever done. It felt amazing.”