ATHLETICS: MULTI-TALENTED young sportsman Tony Corrigan is attracting interest from all sides.

Hitting the headlines as a striker with two junior football clubs in the borough, he has had trials with both of Merseyside's Premiership outfits.

As well as a good goal-scoring record, he also has pace to burn.

Speed is a quality all football clubs are looking for these days - but one which Tony seems destined to demonstrate in another sporting arena.

The 13-year-old, who goes to school in Halton, is poised to launch his bid for stardom in track and field.

Tony is already proving himself one of the country's most gifted young athletes.

His performances in 2003 made him the top-ranked Under-13s 200m runner nationally with a PB of 24.53 secs, set at The National Youth Athletes final in September.

The Liverpool Harrier also achieved the country's second-fastest 100m time of 12.19 secs while a 5.47m long jump saw him claim a second No2 spot.

Dad Gary said: 'The national rankings have just been issued in the Athletics Weekly magazine.

'Tony only missed first place in the 100m by a tenth of a second and by 1cm in the long jump.

'He has put himself top of the all-time fastest 200m runners for his age.'

The Speke-based athlete won Merseyside County and Cheshire Schools titles last year.

He attends Sts Peter & Paul High School, Widnes, and is also doing very well in his academic studies.

Tony steps up to Under 15s competition in 2004 and, although his 14th birthday isn't until late September, he is already closing in on 200m qualification for this year's English Schools Champion-ships.

'He ran 24.8 indoors in Sheffield in November,' added Mr Corrigan.

'It was a warm-up meeting to see where he was pace-wise and to run so fast at that time of year was fantastic.

'He has to run 24.5 to qualify for the English Schools and, as he is at the bottom age of the age bracket, has to do that twice.'

Depending on other performances, his 24.53 could well count as one of the times Tony requires and he has until June to get them.

The athlete's versatility, meanwhile, apparently knows no limits. Mr Corrigan added: 'As a bit of relaxation really, he also did one high-jump event and ended up getting ranked 10th in the country with 1.52m.

'GB coach Mike Holmes, who used to coach the Olympic high jumper Steve Smith, attends Liverpool Harriers and wants to take Tony for long jump and high jump.

'It's three years early - normally he wouldn't touch anyone until they are 16. But he has spotted Tony's potential.

'The week before Christmas, Mike said Tony was the best kid he has seen in high jumping for 15 to 20 years in terms of raw talent.

'But we don't want to get him into everything. If Tony is going to be the No1 sprinter, there is no sense him getting into too many events.' Tony plays football on Saturdays for Halton Junior League side Hale Juniors, who are run by his dad, while also turning out on Sundays for Dundalk Boys of the Warrington League Premier Division.

Mr Corrigan said: 'Tony has attended trials for Liverpool and Everton football clubs and could have continued but wanted to concentrate on his athletics.

'He is a very dedicated athlete and trains three times a week.'