ELLA Turner is hoping to finish the indoor season on a high when she makes her England debut this weekend.

The Oxford City sprinter will compete for her country at the Welsh International in Cardiff on Sunday.

Her selection comes off the back of a superb performance at the English Under 20 Championships in Sheffield last weekend.

Turner set a personal best of 54.22secs – a club record – to land the 400m title and climb to second in the national rankings for her age group.

She is now excited to be pulling on an England vest for the first time and is hopeful of further lowering her pb when she competes against athletes from Wales.

The 17-year-old, from North Hinksey, said: “I’m really excited.

“I’m quite close to 53 seconds now. If I did go under 54 seconds I would be really happy and it would put me in a good place for the outdoor season.

“But I’m just hoping to enjoy it and I’m looking forward to running round in an England vest for the first time.”

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Turner produced a brilliant performance to land the national title, beating Liverpool Harriers’ Emma Alderson by 1.34secs.

The teenager, who slashed her pb by 1.08secs, is putting it down to a race plan masterminded by her coach Marcia Marriott.

Turner said: “She just told me to go out hard for the first 200m and to get in front when we broke, which I had to push for and get my elbows out.

“I knew the girl who came second had a quick last 200.

“I could see her, but I had to stay calm.

“I felt like I had another burst of energy and went for it.

“I didn’t know I would break 55 seconds, let alone get a pb – it was a bit of a shock.”

Marriott added: “It was such a great performance.

“Ella has just matured and she went out there and owned it.

“She took control of the race and looked so confident in what she was doing.”

Banbury Harriers’ Emily Thompson also impressed in Sheffield.

She broke the championship record when winning the under 20 1,500m in 4mins 26.09secs.

Thompson was 9.71secs clear of her nearest challenger as she dominated proceedings.