KENT athlete Charlotte Dale thrust herself into the reckoning for the Commonwealth Games with an impressive victory over 10,000m in Manchester.

The 18-year-old Invicta East Kent athlete marked her 10k track debut by romping to victory in 33 minutes 10 seconds, comfortably inside the Commonwealth Games qualifying mark of 34 minutes.

Only Paula Radcliffe, and the Yelling sisters, Hayley and Liz have run quicker times this season, giving Dale an outside chance of claiming one of the three spots in the England team for the games.

Dale, who had previously only competed over 10k on the road, said: “I think there is a slight chance I could go because Paula Radcliffe has said she will probably run the 5,000 in Manchester.

“I think one of the Yellings is thinking of doing the same and at the moment I don’t think anyone else has run faster than me."

Dale said she would be delighted to run at the Commonwealth Games in July if selected, but the Whitstable youngster also has one eye on the World Junior Track and Field Championships, which are the following month.

There she would run over 5,000m. She added; "If I had the chance I’d like to do both, but I don’t know whether the selectors would allow that."

The official Commonwealth Games trial takes place in June, but Dale says she will probably sit that out. She is next in action on Monday, May 6, when she competes in her hometown race, the Whitstable 10k and she also plans to race over 5,000m in the Kent Championships at Crystal Palace.