It has been a contrasting few weeks for two Southend sprinting stars as, following 18-year-old Katie Flaherty's International debut, Sarah Wilhelmy has confirmed she is close to quitting the sport.

Wilhelmy, who competed at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and at the World Championships the following year, has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines with a long-term back injury which now seems likely to bring her promising career to a premature conclusion.

But, while Wilhelmy starts to swap her spikes for her studies once again, talented teenager Katie Flaherty looks set for greater success after running in the 4x400m relay for the Great Britain U20 team at the Loughborough International on Sunday.

The high-profile appearance followed Flaherty's winning display at the County AAA's and, according to Southend High School's head of PE Sue Simpson -- who has taught both Flaherty and Wilhelmy -- she has the potential to reach the very top.

"Katie's a very talented athlete and has only recently moved up to 400m," said Simpson.

"Before that she was concentrating on the shorter sprints, but she's an excellent all round athlete."

Published Wednesday June 9, 2004

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