Vale Royal Athletics Club's Amelia Pettitt to run for Great Britain at world championships

After returning to her desk following a run at lunchtime, she opened an email to see her name on a list of six senior women.

“They kept me waiting – we expected to know by 10am,” she said.

“I genuinely didn’t know whether I’d make it.”

The 20-year-old, representing Newcastle, had finished fourth at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Cross Country Championships the previous weekend.

But only the top three were guaranteed a seat on the plane to Italy.

On a form she’d part-filled in several weeks earlier, the Vale Royal Athletics Club member said she wanted officials to consider her for selection.

After beating an altogether different race against time she met a deadline to hand in the same piece of paper, now completed.

“I had a bit of a panic,” she laughed.

It feels a long time since she finished far down the field on debut at the county championships in 2008.

Based in Haslington, she switched to Vale Royal shortly afterwards.

The distance to the club’s base in Winsford meant she could not attend every training session, so coach Shaun McGrath drove to south Cheshire every Wednesday afternoon instead.

Together they ran along a canal towpath close to Pettitt’s family home.

“We started from my front door,” she said.

“I run because I love it – it’s a hobby.

“The only target I set is to run faster than I did previously, to improve. That’s it.

“Even though I’d told BUCS I wanted to be considered for the world championships, I didn’t to the trial thinking about that.

“I just wanted to do better than last time.”

It’s an approach she won’t change now, or in future.

McGrath told the Guardian he has met fewer more determined athletes, none with the same attitude to training or preparation.

Pettitt said: “If I know I’ve done everything to be ready, I’ll feel relaxed on the start-line.

“That didn’t apply at the trials, because I’d raced the previous two weekends so not had chance to train.

“I was so nervous; I knew lots of people there, and didn’t want to let them or my team down.

“When I saw the course, I decided to run differently – normally I like to work my way through the field.

“After 250m, it came back on itself and, with such a large field, I didn’t want to get swallowed up so I went out as fast as I could.”

It’s a plan that worked.

The course at Cassino, venue for the world championships, is unlikely to suit her love of a muddy terrain.

Not that it stop her from smiling.

Pettitt got a first taste of running for England last month when she took part in a match against Wales as part of the British Cross Challenge round at Cardiff.

She finished sixth.

“I know every athlete says it, but it’s so special to pull on that vest,” she said.

“It gives you that bit extra when you’re feeling exhausted – you know that whatever happens you can’t slow down.

“You’re part of a team, and want to do well for them.

“I’ve put the England jersey in a drawer – it’s not something you wear for the sake of it!

“I’m excited to put on the Great Britain one now.”

Asked if she’d thought much about Italy, Pettitt was unequivocal.

She said: “I need to speak to my coach, to get a plan – there’s not much time, so I need to know what training is best.”

No predictions, no pressure, just that passion for preparation.

Amelia Pettitt was 10th in the senior women's race at last month's Northern Cross Country Championships at Blackburn. Picture: ROBERT BROWN