MALVERN mountain bike star Liam Killeen has been selected for the England cycling team to compete at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Killeen, aged 20, of Cromwell Road, earned his place after a series of good results in qualifying races and then confirmed this by winning the England selection race over the Games course, the first and only time that the course is due to be used before the event.

Killeen, in Team England when the squad was announced on Monday, said: "I'm very excited, it's my first major games and it's great to get an opportunity being so young and in my home country."

Mountain biking is making its first appearance at the Games and Killeen is part of a three man, three woman mountain bike team and lines up alongside, Oli Beckingsale, Barrie Clarke, Jenny Copnall, Sue Thomas Formby and Victoria Wilkinson.

A former England junior and only recently joining the senior ranks, Killeen has won the National Championships, taken sixth place in the European Championships and finished 10th in a World Cup race series. He also finished 10th in a four-day stage race held in America.

There will be no rest until the Games however, as Killeen was due to leave yesterday (Thursday) for a World Cup race in Canada. He returns home for a week before a 10-day training camp in Spain returning to take part in the National Championships, held at Ludlow, before joining the Common-wealth Games team at its Manchester camp on July 23.

With his sights set firmly on the Olympics in 2004 at Athens, Killeen is still aiming at success at the Games.

He said: "I would be happy with a top five finish but a medal position would be a bit special."

Following the Games, Killeen will also be competing in the European Championships and World Championships.

The mountain bike event takes place on July 29 at Rivington to the north west of Manchester. Entry to the mountain bike competition is free.