JOEL Khan’s coach says the Worcester athlete has the potential to hit the heights as he represents Great Britain at the inaugural European Youth Championships in Georgia this week.

The 16-year-old from Tudor Grange Academy will be the first Worcester Athletic Club member to turn out for GB in an international high jump competition when he competes in Tbilisi from Thursday.

Khan tops the United Kingdom rankings and boasts the seventh highest height in Europe this year for under 18s.

His coach Deirdre Elmhirst said the talented teenager had enjoyed “an amazing 12 months” since becoming the national under 17s champion in August last year.

She said: “Joel’s selection to represent GB at the European Youths is the first step on what promises to be an exciting career as an international athlete.

“He will gain valuable experience at the competition in Tbilisi, which he can build on as he goes up an age group next year.

“Joel has all the qualities to be a future world-class high jumper and will hopefully fulfil his potential as he matures into a senior athlete.

“Everyone is very proud of Joel and he is the first athlete from Worcester to be selected to represent GB in an international high jump competition.”

Khan, who jumps on Thursday and hopes to make the final on Saturday, said: “I am really excited that my dream of jumping in a GB vest is coming true.”

He won the silver medal at the UK School Games, bronze at the Indoor Under 17s Championships and secured his selection for GB by winning bronze at the National Under 20s Championships with a personal best jump of 2.09 metres.

Elmhirst said Khan had consistently jumped over the British Athletics selection standard of 2.07m in the past two months, all while sitting his GCSEs.

He has the potential to jump very high in Tbilisi and perhaps come back with a medal, she added.

Khan has trained with Elmhirst’s high jump squad at Nunnery Wood-based Worcester since 2013.

The coach has seen considerable success in recent years with a series of her athletes winning medals at national championships and achieving top five rankings in their age groups.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the club can email info@worcester-ac.co.uk.