ALEX Nelson warmed up for next weekend's Olympic trials by

dipping inside the 200m qualification time for Beijing.

Nelson, from Holden Bridge, posted a lifetime's best of

20.49 seconds – a British League record – to win the 200m for

City of Manchester at the Thames Valley Athletics Centre,

Eton.

He also produced a season's best run of 10.38s in winning

the 100m as he picked up the 'athlete of the meeting'

award.

Nelson, aged 20, suffered a career-threatening back injury

last August which curtailed his training until May.

But he now goes into next week's UK Championships/ Olympic

trials at the Alexander Stadium full of confidence.

He said: “It has been a real mental challenge this winter. I

have had to cycle and do other types of training which

challenged my motivation.

“I had struggled for months to run without pain and am glad

I have come through it.

“Having run well in the 100m on Saturday I felt confident

about the 200m. My aim this season was to get down to at least

last season's best (10.31) in the 100.

“If I could get close to that I knew that I had an excellent

chance of bringing down my 200 best of 20.69.

“Realistically, I thought I might run around 20.60, but the

20.49 was a real bonus.

“The trials are not about times. It is where you come over

the finish line. However, I have the A standard, so that takes

the pressure off to get a good position and a good time.”

Nelson, who was named male sports personality of the year at

the Sentinel City of Stoke-on-Trent Sports Awards in June,

finished a narrow second to Marlon Devonish at the UK

Championships last year. But he hopes to go one better, adding:

“I am going into the trials with optimism.

“It would be disappointing if I don't improve on my

performance of last year, particularly having got the Olympic A

standard, but it is not the end of the world. I am only 20 and

have time on my side. There is always 2012 to aim at.”