Keely Hodgkinson's searing Olympic rise is making former Lancashire rival Matthew Mackay’s dream seem all the more achievable.

Rossendale ace Mackay, 19, has vivid memories of duelling it out with Hodgkinson – just weeks younger than him - in the Lancashire Cross Country League as they ascended the junior ranks.

And now Wigan star Hodgkinson is an Olympic medallist, dashing to silver in the 800m to emerge as Team GB’s new golden girl of athletics in Tokyo. 

The north-west duo both won races at Rossendale Harriers Athletics Club as Under-17s and Mackay, a British junior star at 1500m, 3000m and 5000m, says Hodgkinson’s exploits have whetted his appetite for the big time. 

He said: “I’ve been watching so much of the Olympic Games and seeing people like Keely, who I’ve grown up racing against in Lancashire, makes the end goal of following in her footsteps seem so much more achievable.

“I’ve grown up with Keely – she’s actually a little bit younger than me and I’ve raced against her so many times.

“To see her on the TV at an Olympic Games doing so well definitely spurs me on, motivates me more an makes the end goal more believable.

“I remember racing with her at Rossendale in the Lancashire Cross Country League a couple of years ago – we both won our respective races. Seeing her do so well on the highest stage, having grown up alongside side her and racing with her, is even more motivating for me.

“Between now and then, I want to keep gaining international vests and competing for my country.

“But absolutely – the Olympics are definitely the end goal.”

Mackay’s burgeoning athletics career is fuelled by an innovative three-year partnership between Entain – owner of Ladbrokes and Coral – and leading sports charity SportsAid.

The funding has been a major boost to his ambitions and Mackay, who studied at Alder Grange School, is about to take full advantage as he embarks on a transatlantic scholarship in the USA.

Mackay flies out to Idaho’s Boise State University later this month where he will study, train and compete against some of the globe’s other exciting athletics prospects.

And Mackay, who recently racked up personal bests in the 1500m and 3000m at Manchester’s Trafford Athletic Stadium, says swapping Burnley for Boise can catapult his career to the next level.

Mackay, who flies to the States on August 15, said: “I’m counting down the days to go now – I’ve got a date in sight and I’m really looking forward to getting started.

“The main reason I’d like to go out there is for the training purposes and the facilities that they’ve got, the races and the opportunity. 

“I love travelling and meeting new people – and I hope it can help me get as far as I can in the sport.”

Entain, owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, is proud to be championing the next generation of British sporting heroes by providing talented young athletes with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Visit entaingroup.com to find out more.