MIDDLE distance runner Helen Clitheroe has set her sights on qualifying for the British World Athletics Championships squad following her triumph in the European Cup.

The Preston Harrier helped the Great Britain women's team to win the European Cup League event at Leira in Portugal at the end by storming home first in the 1500m race.

She crossed the finishing line in 4:07.42, ahead of Sonja Stolic (4:09.17) from Serbia and Montenegro.

Her victory helped the Great Britain's women's team clinch promotion to the European Cup Super League despite a surprising defeat for Paula Radcliffe in the 5,000m.

Although the time was below her personal best she was pleased with the way she ran the race. She said: "It was a pretty decent time, not that quick, but it was a tactical race so winning it was what mattered.

"It was vital for the team to get the points get us promotion, especially with the disappointment of the men's defeat in Italy."

She is currently ranked 18th in the world IAAF rankings at 1500m and is now in training for the Norwich Union World and Commonwealth Trials and AAA Championships taking place over the weekend of July 9-10, in Manchester. Three could qualify from each event for the World Championships to be held in Finland in August depending on their times.

Clitheroe, now aged 31, could be competing in the same race as Olympic double gold medalist Kelly Holmes, who she describes as her inspiration.

Holmes has yet to decide whether to run in the 1500m or the 800m race at the event.

She said: "Kelly has shown what you can do if you put in a lot of hard work.

"She has suffered a lot with injuries but came back brilliantly to beat the best in the world and is an inspiration to us all.

"She is four years older than me so it just shows I have plenty of time left to achieve things.

"Experience counts for a lot at the top level, particularly in middle distance running because it is so tactical.

"It would be great to race against her, although with three qualifying I would not necessarily have to beat her."

She ran alongside Holmes two weeks ago running for Great Britain in an event against USA and Russia in the 1500m in Glasgow.

Holmes won that race with a time of 4:06.52 with Clitheroe finishing an impressive third place with a time of 4:07.98.

The Penwortham runner trains at the Preston Arena track and acknowledged that having a quality synthetic track so close to home is a great help to her.

She said: "Before the Arena was developed the former leisure centre assistant and lifeguard had to travel to Witton Park, Blackburn to train which was a hassle so having the facility so close by had made it so much easier for me."