COLCHESTER Harriers' rising star Charlie Dobson will represent Great Britain at this weekend's Loughborough International in confident mood after bagging a new world junior qualifying time.

The in-form 18-year-old has been selected to compete in the 200m and relay, this Sunday.

Dobson will come up against the likes of England sprinter Richard Kilty at the meet, looking to enhance his blossoming reputation in the sport.

And the Colchester Sixth Form College student will head to the international meet in buoyant mood, following a superb gold-medal winning display at the Essex County Championships, in Chelmsford.

Dobson said: "I'm really looking forward to representing my country again and competing against some of the top senior athletes."

Dobson claimed victory at the county competition in a personal best time of 20.73 seconds, which was also a new track record and Championship Best Performance time which had stood since 1990.

The under-20 sprinter is now ranked 11th in the world in his age group for 200m, along with fifth in the world for his indoor performance.

Having received a phone call from the GB selection team just three hours before his race, Dobson knew he had to go all out in his race let alone win.

With four no shows, his heat turned into a straight final and after an agonisingly long wait at the blocks first for the electric clock to work, then the wind gauge and then the gun, he ran his heart out, obliterating the field from the first few metres to take the win.

And the legal wind of +0.5 meant he had achieved the world junior qualifying time for those selectors.

"I knew I had to just go for it, either in the heat or the final and just hoped that the wind would be kind and the gauge working," said Dobson, who is part of the British Athletics BA Futures Relay programme.

"As it turned out, I only had the one opportunity to achieve it as some competitors withdrew which meant it was a straight final.

"As I crossed the line, it felt amazing when I looked at the clock to see the time of 20.73s but I then had to wait to find out about the wind, which was a little tense.

"It was like a great weight off my shoulders but I also know I now have to maintain it - consistency is key.

"I can't thank my coach Steve Garnham enough for all that he does for me.

"He had a great weekend with five gold medalists at the champs, including myself."

For Dobson to be selected for the World Junior Championships, he now needs to finish in the top two at the Age Group Championships - which is the official trial for World Junior selection - in Bedford next month.