Bobby Clay says she wants to produce a performance on the global stage which showcases the talent that Britain’s middle-distance runners have to offer.

The 19-year-old Invicta East Kent AC star was set for a final warm-up run at Watford on Wednesday night before flying out on Sunday with the GB squad for the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, which begins on Tuesday.

The Wingham teenager is by far the youngest runner in the top-10 in Britain over 1,500m this year after her blistering PB of 4.10.61 at the Diamond League in Birmingham at the start of June.

And it is that time, rather than podiums or finals, which she is targeting when she comes up against unknown quantities from across the globe in Poland.

She said: “I really want to mix it with the Africans – it’s way overdue for someone to do that.

“We are strong at the 1,500m in Britain – you only have to look at the trials – and it’s time we showed how strong we are by performing on the world stage, not just in the senior ranks but the juniors, too.”

The 1,500m heats take place at 10.20am UK time on Friday, July 22, with Clay aiming to secure a place in the final two days later (3.45pm).