THE race for the 100 metres title at the English Schools Championships could come down to two North Croydon district team schoolboys.

As the picture above shows, Cameron Smith, of Archbishop Lanfranc and Croydon Harriers, held off the challenge of David Pratt, of Shirley High School and Hercules Wimbledon, in a photo finish for the intermediate boys title at the Surrey Championships on Saturday.

HEAD TO HEAD: Cameron Smith, of Archbishop Lanfranc School and Croydon Harriers, holds off the challenge of David Pratt, of Shirley High School in the intermediate boys 100m final at the Surrey Schools Championships last Saturday RSMIS120610A99 by Ian Stratton

Smith clocked 11.04 seconds and Pratt, a year younger, 11.05.

"It was tight," reflected Smith, who is ranked in the top five in England over the distance for the U17 boys, "but I've just come back from a hamstring injury. I didn't train all last week or the week before.

"In December I pulled a hamstring adductor muscle and didn't have a great indoor season, but I'm fit now and I want to run better than last year, maybe 10.80.

"I wanted to break 10.96," he added, referring to the championship record set by Sutton & District Athletics Club's Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, now a Great Britain regular, in 2003.

Disappointed with his achievement in not reaching the final at last year's English Schools, he has a different plan for his season.

"I want to get fit for English Schools now and stay fit by doing good race planning. I didn't want to peak too early this year. If you run 10 seconds [under 11] too early in the season, you might not do it again if your muscles are not well conditioned."

He felt he "stiffened up" at the end of the race, but added "I'm still coming back from injury, but I'm stronger this year." He has also been listening to coach Paul Weston about getting his knees up throughout the race.

Pratt's aims are also to go faster than 10.9 and, having made the English Schools qualifying mark, he had several reasons to celebrate.

He explained he did not do much winter training because of shin splints. "My coach wasn't happy. He said he would eat his hat if I qualified for English Schools. My start was relatively slow, which was unusual for me."

After fourth place in the U15 final at the nationals last year, his time should see him selected for the Surrey team, this time at U17 level and possibly reach the final again.