TEENAGER Caitlin Wosika is hoping she will be able to claim a medal at the World Biathle Championships in Florida next month.

The 16-year-old from Hilperton, who been swimming since she was nine, also managed to qualify for the last year’s World Championships but was unable to go because of travel costs.

Wosika admitted she was surprised she qualified because she had been focussing on her GCSE exams this year, rather than training.

She opted to only enter the qualification event in Manchester, where she ran 1600m, then took to the pool for 200m before going back to the track for another 1600m, where only a top four place would ensure a place in the Championships.

And victory booked her ticket to Sarasota for the event from October 21-23.

“I was so excited, it was just a surprise because I haven’t trained that much because of my GCSEs and I haven’t raced well either,” she said.

“I wanted to wait for this one because it is in Florida. I just wanted to qualify for this one, we go (to America) on October 19.

“I’m hoping to be top of my team, I’m hoping to sustain my place in the GB team and race well.”

“I have no clue what my chances are because I don’t know what the competition is like.

“I only know the competition within my team, I’d say I have an unlikely chance.

“I’m mostly looking forward to enjoying the experience, being with my friends and mum I’m going to enjoy the racing.”

The teenager will be joined by her mum Jane when she heads across the pond to take part in her first World Championships.

“I’m extremely proud. This year we were concentrating on exams so she just did the qualifying race and won it by some distance,” said Jane.

“I’m very proud, excited and skint. Before we went to the qualifier for the last world championships I said it wasn’t something we could fund.

“I then said if she qualified for the American one we could save up and go because it is a nicer place to go really.”