EDWARD Bird seized a bronze medal for Team GB with his dip finish at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships on 29th August 24.

Running the 3000m in Lima, Peru, the Poole Athletic Club star produced a battling last lap and final surge to deny Ybeltal Gashahun of Ethiopia a podium place by just two one hundredths of a second.

Bird was the bronze medallist in the 2022 European Under-18 3000m Championships and he finished 18th in the 2023 World Under-20 Cross-Country Championships, but this was his track debut at global level.

Bird, who hails from the west Dorset village of Charminster, began his career with Dorchester AC, before moving to Poole AC some four years ago. He studied at Thomas Hardye School and is now in his second year at The University of Kentucky.

Club-mate William Rabjohns posted 1:51.20 in his 800m heat, but was eliminated at the semi-final stage (1:56.19).

World Athletics Under-20 Championships at Lima: 3000m: 1 Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen (Norway) 8:20.56, 2 Denis Kipkoech (Kenya) 8:20.79, 3 Edward Bird (Poole AC, Team GB) 8:21.00, 4 Ybeltal Gashahun (Ethiopia) 8:21.02