LOCAL athletes Charlotte Dale, Mohamed Farah and Simon Webb, having covered themselves in glory during 2002, are aiming for more honours in 2003.

Charlotte, a student at St. Mary's University College, Twickenham, became the first UK athlete to win the gold medal in the junior women's European cross country championship when she triumphed over the 3.75km course at Medulin, Croatia, this month.

The 18-year-old Charlotte, who says she has been inspired by Paula Ratcliffe, will now take part in the trials for the junior women's World Cross Championships in February. Farah, another St. Mary's student who won the European junior 5000 metres in the summer, hopes to have put his injury worries behind him so that he, too, can win more honours.

Meanwhile, blind athlete Simon Webb from Hampton Hill has been elected the Athlete of the Year by Trinity and All Saints University College, Leeds, where he is a student.

Simon, aged 23, completed for England in the visually impaired 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games and was recently given a Personal Achievement award by Leeds City Athletic Club.

In 2003 he will be competing in the London Metro Games, the Dublin International Games and the Disability Sport England Open Championships.