It was a case of mixed feelings for English Schools' champion Ogadima Duru at the European Junior Championships in Lithuania, after the Enfield & Haringey youngster went crashing out of the 400m hurdles at the semi-final stage because of a minor injury.

The championships, held from last Thursday until Sunday in the Baltic state's second city, Kaunas, saw Duru, in only his second season as a 400m hurdler, reach the semi-final stage with an impressive time of 52.37sec, just behind hot favourite Fadil Bellaabouss, from France.

It was Ogadima's first appearance at an international event, and the achievement was all the more impressive considering he was ranked sixth out of seven athletes in his heat.

"I've still got to get quicker," said Ogadima after the race. "Because I was in lane seven, I ran my own race. I think that's the best way to do it, rather than worry about the others. I'll do whatever I can to get as far as possible. I'm enjoying the experience."

His joy at making it through the semis turned to disappointment, when injury saw him come in at last place.

"I went off too quickly and my right hamstring started pulling from the start. The more hurdles I came to, the worse I felt," he said.