Jason Hussain was left pondering what could have been after clinching gold at the Sussex Track and Field Championships.

Hussain, 17, set a personal best of 22.03sec in qualifying for the final of the under-20 200m before storming to victory in a championship record of 21.55sec at Crawley.

The performance confirmed the Newlands School pupil as one of the hottest young sprinters in the country as he left his Belgrave Harriers clubmates Set Osho and Gavin Selway trailing.

But despite smashing Nick Dawson's previous championship best of 21.80sec, Hussain was one hundredth of a second away from securing a place at the World Junior Championships in Italy in July.

He said: "I was disappointed when I heard I had got so close and had just missed out but to run 21.55sec was beyond my wildest dreams.

"After breaking my personal best in the heats, I felt good going into the final and the fact I had both Gavin and Set breathing down my neck probably helped.

"I've still got a couple of months to qualify but, to be honest, I was only looking to win an international vest this season because I never thought I'd get anywhere near the World Championships."

Hussain picked up his second gold medal in the 400m and broke another championship record in the process.

This time he was pushed right to the line by Osho on his way to slicing almost half-a-second off Dean Packham's 18-year-old record in 48.12sec.

It was over a second better than his previous personal best of 49.3sec and Olympic champion Steve Ovett is the only Sussex junior to have run faster.

Hussain said: "I have only taken up the 400m this year so to run that fast was amazing. I am in the best form of my life and a lot of credit must go to Gavin and Set for pushing me all the way."

His coach Mark Gregory, who guides Olympian Sean Baldock, said: "Jason ran intelligently. He has really broken through this year. It was only his third outdoor 400m.

"I don't want to put pressure on Jason but he has the potential to run internationally.

"There is an under-20 international at Loughborough in a few weeks which will be something he could try and get into. I've already had the GB manager on the phone.

"He was aware of the times Jason and Set put in. I would take him and Set to challenge Ovett's record over the next two years.

"I had the first, second and third with Gavin winning a bronze medal and all three of them train with Sean at Eastbourne. I'm sure working with Sean lifted all their performances."

Anthony Shurmer capped a great week by setting a new championship best in the under-15 high jump of 1.79m.

Just four days after achieving a personal best of 1.78m, the Chichester Runners athlete broke the record set by both Trevor Tancock and Dobson back in 1983 and equalled by Ian Fenn six years ago.

With the adrenalin pumping, Shurmer then asked for the bar to be raised to 1.85m in an attempt to break the county record, only to narrowly fail.

He said: "It has been a fantastic week for me. Breaking the county record would have capped it but it was asking too much really.

"My next aim is to clear 1.80m and go to the All-English Schools Championships later this year."

Simon Cooke was also in record-breaking form in the under-20 discus, winning with a throw of 52.49m.

It broke the championship best he set last year of 49.31m.

But the Chichester athlete wants to improve his performance this summer to seal a spot in the World Junior Championships.

Cooke, who also retained his shot title with 14.20m, said: "I was generally happy with my throwing but there are a few techniques I still need to iron out.

"I don't think I've peaked yet and I'm hopeful I can achieve my main goals this year which are to defend my All English Schools title and make the worlds.

Emma Perkins also set a new best when winning the under-20 triple jump. The Worthing Harrier cleared 11.34m.

She also claimed the high jump crown (1.73m).

Charlotte Browning (Chichester High) and All English Schools champion Carley Wenham (Crawley) completed under-17s double title wins.

The Brighton, Hove and Portslade Schools Championships at Withdean have been postponed until next Monday because of Albion's second leg play-off semi-final with Swindon.

Organiser Chris Carter said: "Hopefully we can get some recompense for the extra administration expenses incurred from Sky TV who wanted the Thursday date to screen the match."