FORMER Worcester Sixth Form College student Emily Burton has been crowned world under 20s duathlon champion.

The 18-year-old's success for Great Britain at the Multi-Sport World Championship Festival in Penticton, Canada, follows victory at the European Duathlon Championships in April.

Burton, voted the City of Worcester Sports Awards' senior female sports person of 2017, said: “It was an incredible race and one I will never forget.

"I achieved a personal best on the 40-kilometre bike leg of the race and after this came the running race which by then was a case of hanging on and seeing what I had left in my legs as I had worked so hard on the bike!”

But Burton had enough energy left and battled against air temperatures which peaked at 32 degrees to claim victory.

She added: “I am extremely thankful to my family, friends, coaches and teachers for all the time they have invested in me and all the support they have given to get me to this level.

"Being introduced to the crowd as the 2017 under 20 world champion from Great Britain made me feel incredibly honoured and gave me a great sense of pride.”

She commits to training at least 11 times per week in swimming, cycling, running and land training.

Burton, of Besford near Pershore, now embarks on a degree in sports journalism at the University of Gloucestershire after her A level studies.

She will continue to train in preparation for next season when she will compete in the World Triathlon Championships in Australia, the World Duathlon Championships in Denmark and the European Championships of both disciplines in Ibiza.