Kyle Langford's time of 1.47.41 in the 800m at the British Milers Club Watford Grand Prix on Saturday was significant for three reasons.

It was a new personal best, a World Junior Championship qualifying standard time and it sealed the 18-year-old Garston athlete’s second place in the men’s race.

Langford, who attends Oaklands College in St Albans, finished just one thousandth of a second behind Norway’s Thomas Roth, who clinched top spot in 1.47.40.

Despite missing out on first place by the narrowest of margins at the event, Langford was happy with the result – especially as he was the youngest athlete in the race.

He said: “I was really pleased and to get a new personal best time in Watford was very nice.

“I didn’t feel that great in the early stages of the race which may have been because of nerves and the heat.

“But I improved as it went on and was really happy to get second, especially as I was the youngest runner in the 800m race.

“It was really good to set a new personal best time and it was a good time for the World Junior Championship trials. I beat what I needed by more than a second and now I can go to those confident.”

There were a total of 127 new personal best times set at the event, which was held at Watford Leisure Centre, Woodside.

Jo Pavey (V40) broke her BMC record at Watford to win the women’s A 5000m in 15.11.52 while Alison Leonard clocked 2.02.79 as she finished first in the women’s A 800m.

Tom Marshall sealed top spot in the men’s 1,500m A race with 3.41.60 while Charlene Thomas celebrated victory in the women’s A equivalent with a time of 4.14.08.

Tom Wade clocked 8.49.25 to win the men’s A 3000m steeplechase while Kerry O’Flaherty crossed the line in 10.10.72 to clinch first in the women’s event.