WORCESTER race walker Wendy Bennett steps up her bid for a place in next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester with a 20km race this weekend.

The former Pershore High School pupil has overcome a serious knee injury to become one of the leading lights in her sport and has set her sights on representing Britain next year.

She has enjoyed a successful summer since returning from injury in March and last weekend finished fifth over 3km in her first international meeting in Kent for Great Britain against France, in a time of 14.37.

Since her comeback race in March Wendy, who is sponsored by Cannons Health Club, has had a fantastic run of success, winning her first race in April, being selected for England in June, the Midlands last month and finally getting a call up to Great Britain.

She also took third place in the 5km racewalk in the AAA championships in Birmingham.

But it is at the longer distance of 20km that Wendy hopes to compete and she faces stiff competition for one of three places.

"I'm hoping to be selected for the Commonwealth Games but there is a lot of competition and a lot of people are gearing their training towards the trials next April," she said.

"It is going to be a hell of a fight to be chosen but that is why I'm concentra-ting on longer distances rather than 3km races.

"Because my climb has been fairly rapid I desper-ately need more exper-ience at longer distances.

"Twenty kilometre races are like a marathon compared to 3km races which are a sprint."

Saturday's 20km race is at Leek Wootton, Warwickshire.