BOLTON School girl Amy Spencer made fantastic progress on her first senior international debut at the World Championships in Birmingham last month.

She made the semi-final of the 200m running times of 23.59 and 23.73. She also managed to get in the British record books running the third leg of the 4x400m relay final. She ran 52.75 in her leg and the team managed to finish 4th. Reporter Kathryn Eccles met Amy and her dad Graham at a training session at the impressive Sportcity, a lottery-funded indoor arena in Manchester.

AN ICE-cold bath in the middle of Winter?

Not what most 17-year-olds would do in the name of sport.

But Amy Spencer knows that after a heavy training session it will do her good -- honestly.

Amy, a pupil at Bolton School, is one of the fastest 200 metre runners of her age in Britain. She holds the UK National Junior Record in the 200m with a time of 23.20 seconds, just 1.1 seconds outside the senior all-time British record.

Her times have earned her praise from world champion Michael Johnson and world record distance runner Steve Cram. Johnson said he was "very impressed" with Amy in the championships and Steve Cram said "she has a great future ahead of her".

They clearly believe she will achieve her ambition and become the world's best at 200m. I believe her too. I've seen her in action.

But Amy knows to be the best means weeks, months and years of hard work. She will have to be dedicated to even get close to Florence Griffith-Joyner's world record of 21.34 seconds. And that means plenty of those cold baths!

Dad and trainer Graham says gritting your teeth and going for the plunge reduces the chances of injury.

He said: "Straight into a cold bath reduces the small bleeding that occurs in muscles, like micro-tears in the muscle. It's more of a preventative thing to mend the tears before they get worse."

Amy's strict training regime has to fit around her studies at Bolton School, where she is due to take 'A' Levels in history, classical civilisation and English literature in June. She hopes to go to Kings College or Birmingham University in September to study history.

Amy often catches up on reading and homework on her way to her circuit training sessions in Leeds or on the way back from competitions!

The week before a race, her schedule of three track sessions a week and one circuit training session is slowed down.

She made her senior international debut in last month's World Indoor Championships in Birmingham where she made the semi-final of the 200m running times of 23.59 and 23.73 seconds. She also ran the third leg of the British 4x400m relay team that made the final, finishing fourth.

Parents Graham and Julie, along with younger brother Thomas, cheered her on and are the starlet's biggest supporters.

Graham proudly says: "I've got to take my hat off to her. She really puts the effort in and is really committed."

But their pride comes at a cost. Petrol running Amy to training in Manchester, Wigan and Leeds every week, along with competitions, is £2,500 a year. Luckily, Amy was given a car from Rover, which has been a lifeline to the family, and Amy's kit is sponsored by Nike.

The only cost to Amy is her social life.

She said: "I'm used to missing parties all the time but my friends are really good. They understand what it's like. In the summer we all go to Wales together so I look forward to that."

But Amy knows it is the lifestyle off the track that influences what she does on it. Luckily, mum Julie is a good cook and the whole family eat healthily. Chicken and pasta are the main dishes of the day -- and lots of it -- though puddings are strictly off the menu!

Graham and Julie's life is focused on getting Amy to the top, but say they feel it's the right thing to do.

Graham said: "It's hard and Amy has had to give up a lot. This is the busiest time of the year for us, but it's exciting when all the hard work comes together."

But what about the father-daughter relationship? It is only natural the two will fall out now and again, but they agreed that it was easier to fall out and forget about an argument if you are father and daughter, rather than athlete and coach.

Amy admits there are times when she want to throw in the towel -- but they are few and far between.

"There has been the odd time, of course, but usually I feel really good after a training session. I've made a lot of friends and the people I started off with in the Great Britain juniors are all still around."

Amy's popularity could be judged by the way several athletes at the arena congratulating her on her recent 23.20 time.

A day in the life of a top athlete

7am get dragged out of bed by Mum.

9am drive to school with Mum in the passenger seat (Amy is still learning)

5pm get home from school after a hard day of lessons. Straight out as soon as Dad gets home to go training until 7.30pm.

8.30pm get home.

Have tea and do homework before going to bed.

How our Kathryn measured up

THOROUGH warming up is probably why Amy has never had any injuries to date. Stepping over hurdles frontways and hopping over them sideways limbered up the muscles for the session ahead; well, so I believe, hurdles have never been my thing. A series of short comedy-type runs followed before Graham pulled out a rope for our first exercise! Intrigued, I watched as Amy put on a belt and the rope was attached to the back. The exercise is used to create tension before Amy would go into the starting blocks for real. My job was to gently pull back on the rope as Amy went from the starting position into full sprint. Her strength was frightening! I was under strict instructions not to let go of the rope and to keep up with her. No chance! My legs could not keep up with hers despite me having some leeway on the rope.