JONSON Hughes, from Darfield, is due to represent Great Britain at the World Cross Country Championships in the USA this weekend then hopes to return there for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The 18-year-old is set to run for his country at under 20 level in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday.

Jonson – who trains in Leeds under Andrew Henderson while working for his father as an apprentice gas engineer – finished fourth in the British Championships in November then 49th in the European Championships in Portugal in December.

His brother Sonny Boy is a two-time national boxing champion who also has ambitions of representing Great Britain at the Olympics.

Jonson said: “I am really excited.

“It doesn’t get much better than representing your country.

“My aim is to be the first British runner back in my category and, if I do that, I will finish really high up because we have a good team.

“I want to run the 5,000m at the next Olympics. I just love the sport and want to make a career out of it.

“The next big step would be the World under 20 Championships in Oregon next summer.

“But I am just working really hard every day to get better and taking these opportunities with Great Britain when they come.

“Me and Sonny both push each other on and hopefully we can go all the way to the top in different sports.”

The Hughes siblings competed in both running and boxing until having to choose one.

Jonson said: “When I was 17 it was decision time. I couldn’t do both any more.

“I had won titles in boxing and got to a national semi-final.

“But I chose running and it’s been the right decision.

“My boxing background definitely helps with the mental side of sport.”