JADE O’Dowda is determined to make the most of her first appearance on the global stage – even if a medal is unlikely.

The Oxford City AC teenager flies to Finland this weekend for the IAAF World U20 Championships.

O’Dowda will go head-to-head in the heptathlon, which begins next Thursday, alongside the likes of Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and Great Britain teammate Niamh Emerson.

Ranked 16th in the world for her age group, the 18-year-old from Kidlington knows what she would class as a successful championships in Tampere.

“I think it’s quite clear I don’t really have a good chance of winning a medal,” said O’Dowda.

“But, because it’s my first international championship, I’m just going there to enjoy it.

“I’m almost going to be in a competition with myself.”

She added: “I would like to get another overall pb in Finland.

“I want every event to be solid and establish that I’ve scored 5,600 points.

“I want to prove I can do it again and I’m consistent.”

O’Dowda been combining her athletics with A-Level exams at Gosford Hill School.

But training has proved an ideal stress relief and she won heptathlon gold at the England U20 Combined Events Championships in May with a personal best 5,610 points.

O’Dowda also made her outdoor British Championships debut last weekend, competing in the 100m hurdles, where she clocked a personal best, and the long jump.

Coaches Marcia and Ian Marriott will be in Finland and the teenager is pleased to have them with her when competing over the two-day heptathlon.

She said: “That will be really good, they’ve put in so much work.

“They’re always at the track and I use the gym at their house – I see them more than my friends.”

O’Dowda’s debut in a GB vest came in January, when she finished fourth in the U20 women’s pentathlon at the Indoor Combined Events International in Madrid.

However, she believes this will be a different experience.

O’Dowda said: “I’m going to meet so many people in the team. I only know a couple of them, and I’ll be relaxing with them.

“I have a couple of days out there before the heptathlon and a few after.

“I haven’t looked at the food in Finland, but hopefully there will be lots of carbs.”