WILTSHIRE’S Jenna Blundell needs to produce the race of her life at the British Championships this weekend to secure her ticket for the European Under 23 Championships.

The former St Laurence School athlete from Staverton, near Bradford on Avon, celebrated her recent 20th birthday with victory in the 100m hurdles at the England Athletics Under 23-20 Championships in Bedford on Sunday.

That all but guarantees her a place in the Great Britain team for the Europeans in Estonia next month – as long as she now runs the qualifying standard of 13.25secs.

Despite a headwind, Blundell clocked a time of 13.46secs on Sunday - just outside her legal best of 13.37secs.

The aforementioned time suggests the 20-year-old is certainly capable of getting close to the qualifying target when she heads to the Sportcity Stadium, Manchester, for the national championships which this year also incorporate the Olympic trials for Tokyo.

“On Sunday I was pleased with running a decent time and being England champion is pretty decent too!” said Blundell.

“Now I have the British Championships as my final chance to run the qualifying time.

“Running 13.46secs into a headwind suggests I am in PB shape so I am very excited about going to the trials, especially if the top two British sprint hurdlers (Cindy Sember and Tiffany Porter) turn up.

“It is a tough qualifying time but I know it is in me, whether at the British Championships or somewhere else this season.

“I know I just have to deliver the performance first and the time will follow. I have one chance left so it is the old saying of go hard or go home!”

Whatever happens Blundell can take great satisfaction at deciding to focus her energies on the hurdles rather than on the multi events, at which she is developing into one of Britain’s best young prospects.

“It is nice to be back doing my favourite event and being competitive at it as well,” added Blundell.

“It is exciting to be concentrating just on the hurdles and I find I have a more relaxed mindset than when I have to do the multi events over two days and rush from event to event.”