If the athletes of St Albans AC needed inspiration ahead of this weekend's Eastern Young Athletes League final, it was supplied by Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Brown Trafton.

The 28-year-old American, who the won discus in Beijing last year, answered questions from the Westminster Lodge club's throwers and put them through a series of training drills last week.

There was also a chance to hold the gold medal that the 6ft 4in athlete won with her 64.74m throw.

It made her the first American to win discus gold since Lillian Copeland in 1932 and Brown Trafton described what competing in the Olympics was like and how she approached life as a professional athlete.

While Brown Trafton, who reached the final of the discus at the World Championships in Berlin last month but did not win a medal, is due compete in Greece this weekend, St Albans reach the climax of their EYAL season with a challenging meeting in Chelmsford.

Excellent league results have earned a place in the A final against the hosts, plus Bedford, Havering Mayesbrook, Luton and Stevenage.

Alongside the team prize, expectations are high for the U-15 Boys, the powerhouse of the squad, to emerge on top in their individual section while consistency across the U-13 girls team could give them a shot at honours.