Vale Royal star takes on best in the world

9:00am Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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REBECCA Craigie steps onto the world stage this week.

The Vale Royal AC star was due to make her international debut at the ISF World Schools' Cross Country Championships in the Czech Republic last night, Tuesday.

"I was shocked to get the call," she said.

"But really happy at the same time.

"It's a bit scary thinking about racing in another country and I'm not too sure what to expect but I'm looking forward to it."

Craigie is one of six girls picked for the Inter Girls team to race against runners from more than 20 countries at Zdar nad Sazavou, situated at the frontier of Bohemia and Moravia.

The 16-year-old impressed the school selectors with her performances at the ESAA English Schools' Cross Country Championships at Liverpool's Sefton Park last month when she finished third in the Inter Girls race.

That earned her a spot on the England team for a home international in Edinburgh where, by her own admission, she finished a disappointing 11th.

An ankle injury picked up at the UK CAU Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships a fortnight earlier did not help her preparation.

"I felt better but the race was really hard," she said.

"I was glad just to be there in the end although it would have been nicer to finish nearer the front."

With the track season due to start in a fortnight, plus looming GCSE exams to fit in, Craigie admits it has been a test to juggle all her commitments.

But athletics is a welcome escape from study.

"It's nice to have a break," she said.

"I'm a bit behind everybody else with my training because I've had the Czech Republic trip to get ready for but I'm sure I'll catch them up."