Buck is in the third year of a degree at Leeds Metropolitan University

Yorkshire athlete Richard Buck is on course for next month's European Indoor Championships in Turin after his 400m display in Stuttgart on Saturday.

The Pickering runner won his first race in 46.61 seconds to achieve the qualifying standard for the event.

Buck, 22, told BBC Radio York: "I was hoping for a little bit quicker.

"It's not a bad time, and I think it's seventh (fastest) in the world at the moment so I'm still competing at the level I want to be competing at."

The Grimsby-born athlete added: "Last year I ran quite a bit under the standard, and the training has been going better this year so I thought I should get it.

"You make sure you run it before the trials so you know you can be eligible for selection."

Buck's next target is to win the European Trials this weekend in Sheffield, which would guarantee his selection for the European Championships.

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