The Easy Runner/Bristol Evening Post athlete of the month celebrates a landmark with the September competition as the winner will be the 100th since the competition was launched more than eight years ago.

When Yate & District AC's Sara Barry was the winner of the inaugural award – a pair of training shoes of her choice – in April 2001 little did anyone know that the competition would emerge as one of the best-known and coveted among the city's athletes.

I have spoken to many coaches who tell me that the competition generates a lot of good-natured banter among their athletes, with those still striving to win taking plenty of stick from those that have!

Open to young athletes aged 18 and under there has been a healthy turn-over of contenders – over 500 have been nominated – and winners in the past eight years and, thanks to the generous support of Bristol's leading athletics retailer, it is a prize definitely worth winning.

In next week's Post we will look back at how some have prospered in the sport, going on to achieve international honours, and some that have faded away.

Needless to say, interest from the six youngsters short-listed for the September prize will be intense as they await the judges' verdict and their chance to create a little bit of history and become winner No 100. As always, the winner will be revealed in next Saturday's edition of the Evening Post.

CAMERON COETZEE: In the most exciting race of the day, the 14-year-old Clevedon AC runner came within four seconds of the course record with a time of 4mins 52secs when winning the Under-15 boys' race in the Bristol road miles held around College Green the day before the half marathon.

LAUREN ELLIS: The 14-year-old Yate & District AC runner, who has set personal bests at 800m and 1500m this summer, claimed an excellent win in the Under-15 girls' race in the Bristol road miles, clocking another PB time of 5mins 46secs.

FREDDY BARTON: The 15-year-old Westbury Harrier finished a battling third in a time of 5mins 04secs behind Sam Bedwell and Adam Speake in the Under-17 men's race in the Bristol road miles. Barton then had a solid run in the Westbury team that won the bronze medals at the Midland Counties Road relay Championships.

KATIE GRINYER: The North Somerset AC youngster, aged 13, enjoyed a convincing victory in the Under-13 girls' race (5mins 58secs) in the Bristol road miles. The following day, she showed her versatility by clocking personal bests of 28.72secs for 200m and 49.00secs for 300m in the Yate Sprints & Hurdles Festival.

ZAC TOBIAS: The 15-year-old finished third in the Bristol Road Miles in a PB of 5mins 13secs and was in the Bristol & West squad that finished third in the Midland Counties Young Athletes Road Relays. He was also confirmed as winner of the Under-15s club athlete of the year award from Bristol & West AC.

SOPHIE THOMAS: The 11-year-old North Somerset AC's young sprinter broke 14 seconds for 100m for the first time with 13.97secs at the Yate Sprints & Hurdles Festival.

The rookie then wrapped up her season with times of 14.6secs for the 100m and 31.5secs in the 200m at the Last Chance Saloon meeting at Braunton.