Co Tyrone running sensation Nick Griggs breaks European record in latest impressive showing

Talented teen athlete Nick Griggs set a European Under 20 mile record on Thursday in another impressive performance.

The 17-year-old from Newmills ran the indoor mile in 3:56:40 at the National Indoor Athletics Live meeting in Abbotstown, finishing second to Olympian Andrew Coscoran.

Nick exploded onto the scene last year when storming to glory at the European Under 20 Championships in Estonia, winning comfortably when racing against many runners four years older than him.

A member of Mid Ulster Athletics Club, the teen pushed Coscoran all the way in a tight finish to the race.

Incredibly Nick's time was just one second short of the U20 world record, set in 2009 by US athlete German Fernandez.

The talented teen tweeted afterwards to say it had been a ‘big breakthrough’ for him on the indoor circuit.

“Unreal way to end a big breakthrough indoor season. Huge thank you to everyone who’s got me to this point so far. Onwards and upwards,” he said.

Speaking to MyTyrone earlier this year, Nick said his ultimate ambition was to make it to the Olympics.

"Ever since I was like five or six I've always said I wanted to go to the Olympics and it was kind of like a big dream,” he said.

"My ultimate goal is to get to the Olympics and win a medal, obviously it's a huge ask and a lofty aspiration but with the right training and guidance and if you're willing to work hard at it then anything is possible.

"I believe that I can as long as I put the hard work in and be smart with the training.”