Queanbeyan's long jumper on the world stage

Ankle injury and jetlag pending, Queanbeyan long jumper Andrea Thompson hopes to follow their lead.

The 16-year-old is counting down the hours until she sets foot on the track at the IAAF World Championships in the Colombian city of Cali.

Thompson is the lone Australian representative in the girls' long jump discipline and must pit her skills against the world's finest junior athletes.

The year 11 Karabar High School pupil won a selectors' reprieve and call-up into the 20-strong Australian team despite an underwhelming performance at national titles in March.

Battling illness prior to the championships, Thompson finished third in the 17 years girls' long jump but was picked nonetheless, with selectors citing her five previous six metre qualification jumps as justification.

She hopes to repay their faith.

"World Championships, Comm-onwealth Games and the Olympics are the goals," Thompson said prior to Tuesday's departure for Miami, where the national team will set up headquarters before skipping across the equator to Cali.

"To represent Australia at open level, that's what I'm aiming for."

Although skilful, determined and physically capable of achieving success on athletics' most prestigious stage, Thompson understands greatness doesn't necessarily equate to financial success.

With the nurturing of her family - who'll be in the stands at Cali - and coach Phil Alchin, Thompson knows she needs a back-up plan.

"My coach says that even if I become world champion, I still wouldn't be able to pay the bills.

"I'd like to become either a firefighter or a large animal physiotherapist," she explained.

"I love horses - horses have always been number one for me, even ahead of athletics. As for firefighting, it seems pretty cool and you get to help people."

The young athlete has overcome hurdles en route to South America.

Firstly, she was required to leap six metres, a mark she'd never achieved prior to this season.

Then she struggled with injury and illness.

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning (Australian time), she has the option of walking into Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium for the Championships' opening ceremony.

The girls' long jump competition isn't scheduled to commence until July 18.

Despite the magnitude of what's ahead, Thompson is making a concerted effort to stay calm.

"It still hasn't sunk in, or maybe I'm just playing it down," she said last week.

"I'm not nervous yet, I just want to get over there."

Her recovery from injury and desire to finish in the top eight overall reflect largely a strong work ethic.

Thompson hits the training track four days a week and spends each Tuesday and Saturday morn- ing in the gym.

All the while, she's chipping away at a Higher School Certificate.

"School's been really amazing about it, too. They know that I might have to go away for competition, so they say 'just hand your assignments in when you can'.

"I don't feel like it's too hard."