MORPETH Harrier Nick McCormick, currently the fastest 1500m runner in the UK this summer, could bring his time down even further in a Grand Prix 11 meeting in Prague which is being shown live on Eurosport on Monday night.

The 24-year-old full-time athlete is rapidly establishing himself as one of Britain's most exciting middle-distance exponents after a series of eye-catching track performances.

McCormick, clearly benefiting from three weeks of training at altitude in Boulder, Colorado, under the supervision of Chester-le-Street-based coach Lindsay Dunn, two months ago, clipped two seconds off his 1500m personal best when he ran 3 mins 37.66 secs in Gothenburg this month, coming second to Australian Craig Mottram, one of the world's leading middle-distance men.

McCormick's time was only two-and-a-half seconds outside the World Championships qualifying time and Dunn believes the race in Prague will make his protg run even faster.

"It is very difficult getting in races like this and we are delighted he has been accepted," said Dunn.

"It is a top-class event and Nick could run even faster against the top opposition he will face in Prague.

"Things have gone really well in training. His last three races have all produced personal-best times and we are hoping this will continue in Prague."

Since returning from America McCormick has won the North-East 800m championship, ran a pb 7 mins 56 secs in a 300m British Endurance Race and, before his performance in Gothenburg, clocked his fastest-ever 1:48.25 for 800m in the Watford Grand Prix.

McCormick is gearing up towards next month's AAA Championships and World Championships Trial in Manchester.

* North-East athletes will get the rare chance to race against a tramcar in tomorrow's inaugural Beamish Tram 10K Challenge in the grounds of Beamish Museum.

The tram will head the field of 200 runners on the first of two circuits of the track before the athletes head off to woodland paths, finishing in the grounds of Beamish Hall.

Only the quicker front-end runners are expected to keep up with the tramcar, requiring the equivalent of five-minute miling, and a leading contestant is likely to be Sunderland Harrier Mark Hood, who was the first teenager to win the North-East 10K road race championship three years ago.

There will be a special trophy for the first athlete to beat the tram at the end of the first 2.5K circuit before the field moves on to finish the 10K race, which is being marshalled by members of Derwentside Athletic Club.

While the limit for the main race has been reached, late entries will be accepted for a fun run starting at 9am.

l Sunderland Harrier Dave Robertson was a runaway winner of the Blackpool Marathon - but had to return to Wearside empty handed.

The 43-year-old former London Marathon veterans champion left his rivals trailing to win by over four minutes in 2 hours 32 mins 27 secs.

But the race organiser's car had been broken into and the silver trophy stolen, while another race official forgot the envelopes containing the prize money!