Johnson: Wightman can emulate inspirational exploits of Farah and Ennis-Hill

Jake Wightman can spearhead the next generation of superstar British athletes after a sensational summer of middle-distance running saw him crowned world champion, claims Michael Johnson. Wightman, 28, shocked the field in July by storming past Norway's Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen to take 1500m glory in Oregon having finished a distant 10th in Tokyo last year.

Ad Footage of the Brit's triumph went viral with dad and coach Geoff providing stadium commentary and Wightman went on to claim Commonwealth Games bronze for Scotland before stepping down to 800m and winning European silver in Munich. AthleticsHudson-Smith's stunning athletics summer set to inspire next generation, reckons Johnson36 MINUTES AGO American sprint icon Johnson reckons Wightman's defining moment can help him carry the torch for British athletics with the likes of Olympic gold medallists Jessica Ennis-Hill and Mo Farah having retired from the track.

«Jake had the best summer of his career, and a lot of British fans are looking for a reason to watch with Mo and Jess are gone, they are looking for that next generation,» said the four-time Olympic champion and BBC pundit Johnson. «People like Keely Hodgkinson and Jake Wightman are great young athletes who are coming up.