SPRINTER Charlie Dobson says securing a new indoor personal best on his England debut was everything he could have asked for.

The Colchester Harriers teenager finished second in his 200 metres race at the Indoor International Track and Field Meet in Vienna after posting a new best time of 21.30 seconds, following a storming finish.

Dobson, from Wormingford, competed for England under-20s for the first time against athletes from across Europe, at the Dusika-Hallen-Stadion.

Dobson told the Daily Gazette: “It’s all I could have asked for, from my opening England race.

“I ran a very good time, for my first race of the season and to get a new indoor PB was very pleasing.

“It was an amazing experience and there was a good atmosphere in the stadium.

“The whole England experience was really cool and it was a really relaxed environment.

“I hope there will be many more in the future.

“I got to travel around with them and there were some older athletes there, too.

“Andy Morgan-Harrison was with me in the 200m, Jarryd Dunn took part in the 400m and

“There were some very high-ranking athletes there.

“I expected to feel a little more nervous than I did and I didn’t feel too bad, once I was there – once I was there, I felt fine.”

Dobson linked up with England’s speed coach Michael Leonard in Austria and the Colchester Sixth Form College student says it was a beneficial experience.

“I got some good feedback from him.

“He said the start of the race was not as good as it could have been but then I got power and speed.”

The England team that travelled to Austria was a mix of experienced and developing young athletes selected from trial races and rankings.

Team Manager Alison Potts said: “The team has been a pleasure to work with.

“The success of the trip was down to the talent and hard work of the athletes and a great support team who worked tirelessly.”

Dobson is next in action this weekend when he competes at the Essex and Eastern AA Indoor Championships, at Lea Valley.