CHORLEY’S Alison Leonard has vowed to take her Aviva World Trials and UK Championship exploits with a pinch of salt despite making the 800m final in Birmingham.

The 19-year-old comfortably progressed through the heats and semi-finals at the Alexander Stadium but was given a lesson in the final and finished well off the pace.

Leonard was the last girl home in a time of 2:07.01 minutes – nearly six seconds shy of Jemma Simpson who upset the odds on the way to securing gold.

Simpson’s run was enough to book her a place on the plane to the World Championships in Berlin while Jenny Meadows and former British champion Marilyn Okoro came home second and third respectively.

But with Leonard set to board a plane to Serbia for the European Junior Champ-ionships in less than two weeks time she admitted she won’t be dwelling on her performance in the Midlands.

“I don’t know what happened in the final really – it wasn’t the best it could have been by far but I have done some good times at the Championships in Birmingham and that is what I have to look at,” said Leonard.

“I was pleased to make the final but it just never happened maybe I have to start making the most of these things.

“But I will be fine – I am just going to forget about it and move onto the Europeans because that is the most important thing for me.

“I had my little boosts in Birmingham – I wish it could have gone better but there is always next year.”

Leonard is the second fastest junior over 800m this year having recorded a season best time of 2:04.50 to pick up silver at the England Under-20 Championships last month.

The Chorley ace will also have a score to settle in Novi Sad having narrowly missed out on the podium at the World Junior Championships in Poland last year finishing fourth.

Leonard’s preparations have been far from ideal after she suffered from a stress injury in her thigh – but the Blackburn Harrier insists that will play no part at the European Juniors.

“I am getting fitter every week – it isn’t great but things are going well,” she added. “I don't think I’ll have to do much to make the final in Serbia and from there on I obviously hope to do the best I can.”

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