After watching on from the stands at London 2012, rising star Ben Claridge has set his sights on becoming an Olympian.

The 17-year-old from Blewbury, who will captain Oxfordshire’s boys team at the English Schools’ Track & Field Championships in Gateshead next weekend, is eager to make the big time.

With Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and former British athlete Sebastian Coe among his role models, Claridge is determined to be a success.

He said: “The Olympics is a drive for every young athlete to want to do well.

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“It drives me to improve my times and get to the top level.

“I went to watch the track events at London 2012 and it definitely inspired me.”

Claridge, who trains at Abingdon’s Tilsley Park, added: “I have learnt a lot about Sebastian Coe and if there is anyone I would like to emulate it would be him.

“I want to continue to get better and faster and really see where that takes me.

“I would love to have a career in athletics, whether at competition level or on the surroundings,”

Claridge, who attends King Alfred’s School in Wantage, will tackle the senior age group in the English Schools’ championships at the Gateshead International Stadium on July 10 and 11.

After coming second in the intermediate 800m on his English Schools debut 12 months ago, he will race in the 400m this year.

And he is looking forward to the challenge of leading the boys team for the first time.

“It is an honour to be given the role of captain,” he said.

“It is something I am looking forward to doing.”

Claridge is 21st and 46th in the Under 20 400m and 800m British rankings, but is up to two years younger than some of the competitors in his age bracket.

He has been running for White Horse Harriers since he was 11-years-old and had to make the decision not to race in his favoured 800m at Gateshead.

He continued: “You can only do one event and I decided I was going to do the 400m.

“The 800m is still my strongest, but it compliments the 400 and I am working on my speed at the moment.”