Hannah England, Oxford City's rising middle-distance star, will compete at under 23 level for the first time in 2007.

England, who has been taken under the wing of double Olympic gold medalist Kelly Holmes, knows that her first year at the higher age group will be tough, but she wouldn't want it any other way.

England, 19, says that the step up in age group is the competition she needs as she continues her development as a top international athlete.

She's been in the national limelight, thanks to the "On-Camp with Kelly" initiative, Holmes hand-picked a selection of promising athletes to take under her wing.

England said: "My major goal for this year would have to be the European Under 23 Championships.

"It's going to be really tough to qualify for it, because I'm now at the bottom of the new age group rather than top of my former age group.

"But Kelly has made me believe in myself.

"She came out to Beijing with me in the summer as my coach couldn't make it, and she's always on hand to give me advice.

"Kelly's such an incredible motivator. When I injured my foot in April, I thought my season was over, but she was as keen as I was to get me through it."

England is hard in training at Birmingham University, where she is studying biochemistry, and during the winter she will also compete in a selection of cross country events.

But it's on the track where England expects to excel.

"The 800 and 1500m are my two big events," she said.

"Everything is geared towards London 2012, but the fact that it is in London means that the competition will be immense to get there.

"I have a structure of targets over the next few years, starting with the European Under 23s, both in 2007 and in 2009.

"I also hope to get into the England Commonwealth Games squad for Delhi 2010 and hopefully onto the world championships in 2011.

"All these targets are in place as the long-term goal for London 2012."

"I still compete for Oxford City whenever I can, like Nathan, I'm proud of the club I represent and it's great when we go to the national championships together because we both wear our City vests with pride."