Thompson grateful for Ennis input

Thompson set five personal bests in Italy

Halewood heptathlete Katarina Thompson has paid tribute to the influence Jessica Ennis has had on her.

Thompson, 16, who took gold at the World Under-18 Championships in Italy last weekend, has worked with 23-year-old Ennis while on Great Britain duty.

"She's an amazing high jumper considering her height, she's just an amazing all-rounder," Thompson told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"I trained with her in the shot put and she's really lovely."

Thompson, who set five personal bests on her way to victory in Bressanone, says Sheffield's Ennis is the athlete she looks up to as she works her way towards the London Olympics in 2012.

"Obviously Carolina Kluft is an amazing athlete so you do look to her and say 'oh she's really good', but you can relate more to someone like Jessica Ennis.

"She's come from a young age and is from the north as well so it's bits and bobs," said Thompson.

The Liverpool Harrier amassed an incredible 5,750 points in Italy which is a best ever score by a British athlete in her age group.

It's the Olympics and it's in your home country and it will just be an amazing, amazing experience and I really want to be there Katarina Thompson on London 2012

Like so many of her contemporaries Thompson says she is completely focused on making the Great Britain team for the London Olympics in 2012.

Asked if the games loom large in her mind Thompson said: "Really? All the time. It's the Olympics and it's in your home country and it will just be an amazing, amazing experience and I really want to be there."