Sprint ace ready to hunt medals for Great Britain

Teenager Amy Hunt has ticked off another sporting career target by being selected to represent Great Britain for the first time.

The 16-year-old Newark sprinter will race in the 100m at the European Athletics Under-18 Championship, which starts a week today in Gyor, Hungary.

Hunt’s selection is reward for a great start to the season, which saw her break her 100m personal best.

Her time of 11.63secs is the 16th best overall in the country this year.

Last weekend she was third at the Intertrust Athletics Games in St Peter Port, Guernsey, in 11.92.

One of 33 youngsters chosen to represent Great Britain, Hunt was provisionally listed in the squad subject to a slight niggle with her achilles but said she was feeling fitter than ever.

“I was quite shocked to be selected to honest,” she said.

“The race at the weekend did not go as I wanted so it was very unexpected and surprising to be chosen.

“When I found out I was over the moon as it was my big target for the year.

“It is great to have reached this level and I just hope it goes well.”

Hunt said it had been tough to combine training and studying for her GCSEs — she finished a total of 27 exams last week.

The three-time English Schools girls’ 100m gold medallist said her priority was to enjoy her first GB appearance.

“I would not say I have a particular goal,” she said. “Obviously it would be lovely to get a medal but it is a championship and anything can happen.

“It is my first GB vest. I want to do well and make everyone proud, but most of all I want to enjoy the experience.

“This will be great for me and I am going to take so much from it.”

Earlier this year Hunt was picked to join the 2018 Futures Sprint Relay (4x100) Programme, which aims to help under-20 athletes improve their skills to progress into the World Class Performance Programme.

She said her own personal performance had come on in leaps and bounds in the past year.

“I have become a lot stronger and I have managed to make my transitions better. I have really seen an improvement there,” she said.

“Right now I feel like I am improving all the time, and the added strength has helped my drive and work out of the blocks.

“My two coaches, Joe McDonell and Paul Farquharson, have been amazing.

“They have helped take me to the next level and progress, while keeping me level-headed and humble.”

Team GB leader Femi Akinsanya said: “The under-18 age group is incredibly competitive in the country this season.

“We are very pleased to have selected such a strong squad of athletes.

“It is a great opportunity for these young athletes to compete on the international stage and I am excited to see how they perform on this stage and what they can learn from their experience.”