MARCIA Marriott has backed Jade O’Dowda to make the big time after she moved to the top of the national under 17 rankings.

The 16-year-old proved unstoppable in amassing 4,926 points to win the heptathlon at the English Schools’ Regional Combined Events Midland Division match in Derby.

O’Dowda’s exploits helped Oxfordshire’s inter-girls team book their place in the national finals at Exeter on September 17-18.

The Oxford City athlete beat her nearest challenger by more than 700 points.

She had already won the competition before the last event – the 800m – but that did not stop her from clocking 2mins 23.1secs and smashing her personal best by seven seconds.

The outstanding display moved O’Dowda above British heptathlon greats Denise Lewis and Kelly Sotherton to sit eighth in the all-time under 17 standings.

Her sights are now set on beating Yinka Ademuwagun-Idowu’s mark of 5,031 to move into the top five.

Marriott, who also coached the former City heptathlete, said: “As long as Jade progresses gradually and steadily it is all there for her.

“She has definitely got something, has a fantastic work ethic and is growing all the time.

“There is no pressure on her.”

Also in the Oxon team in Derby were Banbury’s Rebecca Scott, as well as Radley duo Petrina Chantler Edmond and Tori Harte, who finished eighth, ninth and 15th respectively.

The quartet will be joined in Exeter by Tim Stephens, Jack Spencer and Alice Hopkins.

And with Ollie Stacey and Holly Griffiths-Brown awaiting a possible wildcard, Oxon could have their biggest team for 12 years.

City’s Stephens, also coached by Marriott, secured his place by winning the senior boys’ decathlon regional title with 6,130 points.

The 18-year-old has waited six years to land the midland title and succeeded in his final year in the age group.

He did so by setting a pb of 3.70m in the pole vault and 4.20.04 in the 1,500m.

Great Milton’s Spencer came second in the junior boys’ pentathlon, to earn an invite.

Also competing in the age category were Radley duo Theo Williams and Ben Shakespeare, as well as City’s Jack Judson.

Senior girl Hopkins (Radley) received a bye into the finals after she was unable to compete at Derby due to running at the British Championships in Birmingham.

Radley’s Stacey and Blake Strickland Bennett took part in the inter-boys octathlon, with the former finishing sixth and in with a chance of a wildcard.

Clubmate Griffiths-Brown came close to direct qualification from the junior girls pentathlon and will now have to wait on other results across the country.

Kylah Rowlands, Zoe Lovibond and Matilda Donaghy (all Radley) were also in the team, which just missed out on winning the event.