Jessica Judd confirmed for World Junior Championships (From Echo)

Jessica Judd confirmed for World Junior Championships

7:08pm Tuesday 26th June 2012 in Sport

JESSICA Judd has had her place at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona confirmed.

The 17-year-old, from Canvey, will do the middle distance double at the under-20 championships, running both the 800m and 1,500m.

The British team was named by selectors yesterday, but there was disappointment for 400m hurdler Hayley McLean who was left out of the squad.

McLean, from Stanford-le-Hope, received words of comfort from British hurdles star Perri Shakes-Drayton after being devastated by missing out.

Shakes-Drayton told McLean on Twitter: “It’s not the end of the world. In a few years you'll be older and a lot stronger. Keep your head up.”

McLean’s omission has proved controversial as she run the qualifying standard for the championships two weeks ago at the England under-20 championships in Bedford.

But the Palmer’s College student was later disqualified for not clearing hurdles properly by judges, who refused to explain exactly what offence had been committed.

Judd is ranked second in the world at junior level for the 800m this year behind the Ukranian Anastasiya Tkachuk who is two years her elder.

She is ranked 11th in the world in the 1,500m.

Former Thurrock FC footballer Adam Gemili has also been named in the GB World Juniors squad.

Athletics’ find of the summer will run the 100m in Barcelona before going on to compete at the London Olympics in August.

The championships start on July 10.