If hometown hero Mitchell Lightfoot was feeling any pressure ahead of the men’s under-20 110m hurdles final, he didn’t show it.

Promoted as the “face” of the Athletics NSW Country Championships in the lead-up to the event at the Maitland Regional Athletics Centre, the Largs teenager lived up to the hype, not only winning the title on Sunday but slashing 0.13 of a second from his personal best (PB) time.

Along the way, the 18-year-old set a new record of 13.52, passing his own mark of 14.24 from 2021.

He went below the World U20 Championships qualifying time by an incredible 0.68 seconds, too.

In the blue-ribbon race, Lightfoot held off challenges from Coffs Harbour’s Jack Sheehan (14.61) and Kotara South’s Rhys Robbins (14.92), who claimed the minor placings.

The trio finished ahead of Jett Link (15.38), Jelle Van Der Ham (16.34) and Wallsend RSL’s Cory Vizintin (17.66).

The win now moves Lightfoot from number six to four on the Australian under-20 all-time list for the 110m hurdles.

He also sits just 0.04 of a second behind reigning national champion Tayleb Willis, of Victoria.

Last month, Lightfoot ran a PB of 13.62 in the 110m hurdles at the NSW All School Championships.

That result earned the Maitland Senior and Little Athletics Club member a spot on the World Juniors Australian team, which will head to Colombia in August.

“I’m only contesting the 110m hurdles, I’m not doing the (100m) sprint,” he told the Newcastle Weekly before the weekend event.

“I am saving myself for the 2022 Athletics ACT Under-20 and Open Championships the following week.

“That’s the priority for me and my coach Andy Burton.

“Down there, I’ll be competing in heats and finals for both races on the same day.

“So, I’m sort of resting myself for that comp.

“That’s not to downplay the NSW Country Championships.

“I’m hoping to PB [here] as much as possible – and fine-tune my performance in readiness for the ACT.

“That’s the aim every meet this season.

“If I can get close to the runs I’ve done in the past month, I’ll be more than happy.”

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