Barnet's Jordan Townsend believes he may have taken his first small steps to becoming an Olympian at the 2013 Balfour Beatty London Youth Games.

The 14-year-old Christ’s College Finchley pupil made it to the final of the 300m and finished eighth at Crystal Palace over the weekend.

The likes of double Olympic champion Mo Farah and sprint legend Linford Christie all started their careers at the London Youth Games.

And, although he would have liked to have performed better, Townsend admits he’s desperate to follow in the footsteps of some British greats.

"The London Youth Games were great, the support lifted us all," said Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier Townsend.

"It was very challenging but the fact that Olympians started out at this event is very inspiring as I am always looking at the older generation in athletics.

"I was pretty scared at the beginning but when I came second in the heats I felt really good and I think I was unlucky to come last in the final.

"But I’m Barnet champion so I’m really happy about that. I hope to continue training with Shaftesbury Harriers and be one of the best at the English Schools one day."

Barnet’s performance on the track was down on last year - the boys fell to 29th and the girls to 27th - but their 16th-place standing in the overall race for the Jubilee Trophy was the same as 2012.

That was due in part to top-three finishes in boys’ cross country, mixed fencing and girls squash and table tennis.

But athletics team manager Sandra Peukite admits the chance for her team to hone their skills at one of London’s premier sporting facilities will only be a benefit.

"It was fantastic again, this is the third year I’ve been and it’s a great atmosphere," she said. "I think the London Youth Games allow recognition and just a chance to compete against peers within London at a facility like Crystal Palace.

"How often do you get to compete in a place like this and this kind of audience cheering you on? We’ve seen some really good talent.

"We’ve had some kids who haven’t really trained before which may spur them on to really enjoy athletics and train more often."

The London Youth Games is delivering a sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics by inspiring more young Londoners to play and volunteer in sport.

London’s councils including Barnet along with Balfour Beatty and Sport England support Europe’s largest annual youth sports event which has over 100k athletes competing across 85 competitions over nine months.