Ellis Greatrex aims to be great for Britain

The 16-year-old heads to Tbilisi in Georgia next week as he joins the Team GB squad for the inaugural European Youth Championships showpiece.

Greatrex, who was a short-sprint hurdler before turning to the one-lap event, got a taste of competing on the big stage while wearing an England vest last year.

He's now ready to take his supreme talent to the next step and outdo his continental rivals.

The Thomas Telford Year 11 student currently holds the second fastest time in Europe (47.47 seconds) across 400m for athletes born in 1999 and 2000 – the age category for the Tbilisi meet.

Greatrex turns out for Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club and is coached by Upper Team manager Claudio Albanese.

He's one of 33 Team GB members staying over in Gatwick tomorrow before flying to the Georgian capital, where he will aim for success in the new multi-purpose Mikheil Meskhi Stadium.

In an exciting period for the Aldersley Leisure Village-based W&B AC, the club also see 13 members travel to Gateshead to compete in the English Schools Championships.

And Albanese, who played a part in Greatrex's change of events, believes the promising athlete's qualification is testament to hard-graft and commitment.

The coach said: "He wore the England vest in October, so he got a taste of that, but we were talking about the prospect of this competition back in October last year.

"His success in qualifying is mainly down to how he has progressed in training, fitness-wise, and also how he has competed in the indoor season earlier this year.

"He's been getting his personal bests down and heading in the right direction. It's all down to his commitment.

"Ellis has always been keen on getting a Team GB vest but I don't think he thought it would be this early doing the 400m.

"I'm not surprised he's doing it because of his talent – but I am a little surprised it's so early!"

Greatrex will likely be up against the only European quicker than him over 400m, Mihai Cristian Pislaru of Romania.

And the W&B youngster, who clocked up his record time of 47.47 at Bedford, has also clocked a PB indoors.

He achieved the UK Athletics stated qualification time of 48.30 to be considered for selection.

With the help of high hurdler and team physio Alex Nwenwu, Greatrex has developed physically and suits the 400m style.

The coach added: "I remember when he first ran an internal open 400m run in late 2014 and I thought to myself he could make a decent 400m runner.

"He's got the build for 400m, he's grown and is now taller than me and his dad!

"But he's got that lean physique and has managed to become defined with gym work, circuit work and conditions – you can see a difference.

"If he medals it will be a huge boost and anything like that is a bonus."

Albanese went on to reveal his pride as 13 W&B athletes qualified to compete in the School Championships, representing their schools across the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Molly Walsh, 16, Niall Price, 15, Phoebe Baggott, 14, Steve Thompson, 16, Psalm Roberts-Nash, 16, Harry Drummond, 15, Simone McKen, 17, Lynx Noumui, 14, Cliona Perkins, 17, Kai Dudfield, 15, Tor Bennett-Williams, 18, Dani Rowlinson, 18, and Adam Saul-Braddock, 14, complete the Aldersley interest in the high-profile north-east competition.

The athletes will compete across three age categories – senior (under-19s), intermediate (under-17s) and junior (under-15s).

The crop of talent secured successful qualification times at the County School Championships to book a place in Gateshead, where delegates from UK Athletics and Team GB will be eagle-eyed and spotting potential stars.

At last year's event, where 11 W&B athletes competed, former world champion middle-distance runner and Olympic silver medallist Steve Cram CBE was on hand to present medals.

Albanese added: "It's virtually the highlight in what you can compete in for your county and school.

"When I returned last year to coach at this level, I wanted the athletes to compete at the Midland Championships and England Championships.

"There are youngsters out there who have it in them to compete for us and I want them to come along and join us and come and have a go."

The club train at Aldersley Leisure Village from 5.30pm-8pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.