Maidstone's Jack Green may not be the most punctual member of the Great Britain squad, but he certainly timed his run to the World Championships to perfection and insists he’s not in South Korea just to make up the numbers.

The 19-year-old (pictured) has enjoyed a stellar breakthrough season, claiming 400m hurdles gold at the European Under-23 Championships in the Czech Republic before carving his personal best down to 48.98sec.

Illness ruled him out of the UK Trials and Championships, where Nathan Woodward secured victory to join Dai Greene on the plane to Daegu, but UKA head coach Charles van Commenee picked Green for the third spot.

As a result his whirlwind season will continue when round one gets under way on Monday. But rather than soaking up the experience of his first major senior championships, Green, who missed the bus for his first two training sessions in South Korea, is determined to make the final at Daegu.

"A successful competition for me would be to make the final. I am not sure where I will be ranked going into it but I think it will be in the top 10," said Green, who benefits from the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes scheme.

"I hoped at the start of the season that I could get to the World Championships and I believed I could but I am really happy to be here. I have raced in the Diamond League before and beaten a lot of those guys ranked ahead of me and so that is the aim."

He added: "I don’t see myself as an extra. I came fourth in two Diamond Leagues, I can compete against the best."

Lloyds TSB, in partnership with SportsAid, is providing awards of £1,000 to 344 emerging athletes on their journey to London 2012 and beyond. Follow your Lloyds TSB Local Hero at www.facebook.com.lloydstsblocalheroes