LATCHFORD'S Jade Llewellyn has been recognised as one of the top triathletes in the country in her age group after being selected for the world class start squad.

The 13-year-old Bridgewater High School pupil will join up with the 30-strong squad in late October for the first of several monthly sessions designed to hone the country's up and coming talent in the sport, which combines the disciplines of swimming, cycling and running.

She was selected on the back of her performance in the Inter Regional Triathlon Championships in Speke, where, competing for the north west, she finished seventh - only 21 seconds behind the winner - in the Tristar Three category for girls aged either 13 or 14.

Jade received the call to inform her that she had been picked just a day later, and along with the rest of the squad she will travel to Leeds Metropolitan University next month for physiological and psychological assessment.

Her father Dave said: "It's a phenomenal achievement because she only started triathlons in March and had her first event in June.

"She has been swimming since she was nine or 10 but couldn't get involved with the running because they clashed.

"But as she progressed through the squads with her swimming they didn't clash, so she started running last October and found she was good at it.

"She swims five mornings and five evenings a week and goes running straight afterwards on two or three nights, but she absolutely loves it and always has a smile on her face."

Jade is part of the national squad - the town's top 18 swimmers in her age group - at Warriors of Warrington Swimming Club, and finished seventh in the North of England Athletics Championships in May while representing Warrington Athletics Club.

She qualified for the Inter Regional Triathlon Championships - putting her among the top 24 triathletes in Great Britain - after finishing in the top two in the regional winter and summer triathlon series, and has her heart set on a place in the 2016 Olympics.