GREAT Britain international Richard Kilty could break Jonathan Edwards' 19-year-old 100m record in this weekend's North-East Track and Field Championships at Gateshead International Stadium.

The 20-year-old Teessider, who is now advised by Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie and his coach, Ron Roddan, aims to bounce back after nearly a year recovering from a serious hamstring injury.

Former world triple-jump record holder Edwards was also a rapid performer over 100m and his 1992 clocking of 10.6 secs - before electronic timing became the norm - has not been bettered at the regional championships.

Kilty, however, has a personal-best of 10.43 secs from 2009 and last weekend he opened his track season with a time of 10.8 secs representing Gateshead Harriers in a low-key North of England Division Two match at Middlesbrough's Clairville Stadium.

Recognised as one of Britain's most exciting young sprinters, Kilty decided to switch from Tyneside coach Jared Deacon, who guided him to the 200m final of the European Under-23 Championships two years ago, to Christie's group of elite sprinters in London.

This time last year he was going great guns - until he tore a hamstring muscle finishing second to Mark Leis-Francis in the Great Manchester Games and had to be carried away on a stretcher after clocking a superb 10.46 secs. A week earlier he ran 10.44 secs in Belgium and appeared to be heading for a memorable season.

Now fully recovered from his injury, Kilty hopes to pick up the reins again and his immediate goal is selection for the European Under-23 Championships, where he was the youngest 200m finalist, finishing seventh, two years ago.

The North-East Championships start each day at 10am, covering all age groups from under-13 to seniors, and spectators are welcome.

* Teesside middle-distance runner Jonathan Taylor, the British Universities 1500m champion, has decided to try his hand at steeplechasing. The 22-year-old Morpeth Harrier has linked up with Teesside-based former UK Athletics steeplechase coach Gordon Surtees, who guided former Gateshead Harrier Colin Walker to Great Britain Olympic Games honours and the Commonwealth Games bronze medal over the barriers.