Colchester's Louis Persent overcame an Achilles injury to claim a 400 metres bronze medal for Great Britain at the European Junior Championships in Serbia.

Persent ran an intelligent race in the final as he finished in 46.82 seconds to take Britain’s second medal in the race behind team-mate gold winner Chris Clarke.

The 19-year-old Colchester Harriers athlete nursed an Achilles injury through the first two rounds and was placed in lane eight for the final.

However, his maturity showed through to ensure he was still in the mix in the home straight and he came through to claim another honour in British colours.

Persent said: “I just had to run my own race because I didn’t have a clue what was going on from my lane.

“I must have been back in fifth coming round the bend and then I could see everyone and gave it my all.”

It was Persent’s third medal at a major international junior tournament following a silver in the 4x400m relay at the World Junior Championships last year and a gold in the 4x400m relay at the European Junior Championships two years ago.

However, this was the first in an individual event and while his run in the final was more than a tenth of a second slower than his personal best and 0.09 seconds of his season’s best, he was delighted to finish on the podium.

“I’m not pleased with the time but I’m so pleased to get a medal,” he added.

“It has been too long waiting for this.

“Chris ran the most incredible race, it was brilliant.”

Clarke clocked 45.59s and joins previous British European Junior title holders including Roger Black, Todd Bennett, David Grindley and Tim Benjamin.

He said: “I put myself under huge pressure here and I was so nervous before.

“I’d said I wanted to go under 46 seconds and win a medal but when you’re on that start line it’s tough.

“I’ve been competing in the juniors for four years and although when I was 16 or 17 I didn’t really feel the pressure, I found last year hard and know that I didn’t do as well as I should.

“That’s the best race I’ve ever put together technically.

“I really wanted to go under 46 but 45.59 is something else.”

In the men’s relay there was good news with the GB & NI quartet of Olafunmi Sobodu, from Colchester, Junior Ejehu, Deji Tobais and Eugene Ayanful playing it fairly safe with conservative changes, finishing third in their final in 40.17.

While the German team ran away with a 39.62 victory, the GB foursome was happy with their work in making the final.

Ayanful – bronze medallist in the 100m said: “The important thing was just to get through. You can’t do anything unless you’re in the final, and once you’re in the final we know anything can happen.”

Sobodu, who will be replaced by Andy Robertson (Sale) in this afternoon’s final, wanted to enjoy his moment helping the team qualify: “It’s my last race here and my last race as a junior as I go up next year. Andy will take my place and the guys have got a good chance.

“I want to say however thanks to the people who got me here in the team for their support, the staff at Lee Valley, and my coach.”