Next stop Beijing for golden girl Twell

STEPH TWELL landed Britain's only World Junior Championship title in Poland as she stormed to 1500m gold.

The Aldershot Farnham & District AC star, who has won two European Junior Cross Country titles, eased to victory in a tactical final in Bydgoszcz - clocking a time of 4.15.09 minutes to pip Kenyan Kalkidan Gezahegne into second.

Twell's gold medal is the first time a British female has ever medalled in the 1500m at the World Junior Championships, with the previous best effort a fourth placed finish for Lisa Dobriskey and Dani Barnes in 2002 and 2004 respectively.

There was further cheer for the British squad as Emma Pallant battled down the back straight to land a surprise bronze medal.

Twell, who studies strength and conditioning science at St Mary's University in Teddington, has also already secured the Olympic qualification mark and will be keeping her fingers crossed a Beijing call follows this week.

"Wow - what a feeling," said Twell. "With 500m to go, I was trying to make my move but the other girls were spread out in a straight line in front me.

"I couldn't press that button because I'd have had to have gone wide. I was getting nervous. I was feeling quite relaxed before. My tactics had to change slightly because of the way it was run and I had to make a move at 400m instead.

"Thankfully it paid off and I've got the gold medal to show for all my efforts. I was injured earlier this summer and seeing the track season start was hard.

 "For a tactical race, I'm very happy with the time because it was a slow first lap.

"I think this is a greater achievement than any cross-country title. The intensity of racing on the track is far greater."

Meanwhile, fellow Farnham star Pallant hailed her World Junior bronze and promised it would be the first of many championship medals.

"I'm delighted with that," she said. "I got caught at the back and I didn't enjoy the first half of the race.

"The first half was probably one of my worst races tactically. I didn't want to be right at the back at the bell. I knew the bell would be the break so I had to make sure I was there.

"I had to be prepared for it being a fast race but I was happy with it being a slow pace and I think that eventually helped me."

Meanwhile, there was heartbreak for Winchester and District AC sprinter Holly Croxford after she was involved in a baton mix-up during the 4x100m heats on Friday.

With 100m silver medallist Ashlee Nelson waiting in the wings the 18-year-old failed to pass the baton on to Anike Shand-Whittingham within the allocated zone meaning the team failed to finish.

RYAN BANGS