CATHERINE Riley has been selected for the Norwich Union Great Britain and NI Team for the Under 23 International versus Germany in Newport on Saturday.

The 800 metres star was chosen after reaching the final of the Commonwealth Games Trials at the Manchester Stadium a month ago.

In her semi-final, the Fence girl set a PB of 2 minutes 06.14 seconds to revive memories of her time with Park High School AC in Colne when she was a National Champion.

It was in February 1999 that as a 16-year-old she won the AAA Indoor title at 800m. It was the culmination of an all-conquering season in the Under 17s which had brought a string of major Championship victories including the Lancashire County, Lancashire Schools, Northern and English Schools titles.

But in the autumn of '99 she joined Trafford AC for the opportunity of better competition with a National League outfit. After a first season adjusting to her new environment, an achilles tendon problem interrupted her progres.

But with a solid winter behind her she is once more moving forward.

She is training at Trafford three times a week and studies physiotherapy at Manchester University.

The last few weeks' events have caught Catherine by surprise, she hadn't expected to reach the final at the Games Trials and has no idea what the competition will be like from the German team.

But being chosen for her first Under 23 International at just turned 20 has given her a boost and she is determined to work hard this winter and come back even stronger next year.

Also selected for the Under 23 International as predicted is the Under 23 AAAs Champion Rebecca White.

Becky, a former Blackburn Harrier now at Sale Harriers, was in action in the Senior AAAs Championship at Birmingham at the weekend. In her best event, the triple jump, she finished sixth with a respectable 12.65m and she made seventh in the long jump with 5.78m.

Life will soon be getting tougher for British triple jumpers if Yamile Aldama is granted British citizenship.

Cuba's 1999 world silver medallist is married to a Briton and has a ten month old son born in this country.

UK Athletics have confirmed that they are involved in Aldama's application for citizenship. On Saturday she finished second to Ashia Hansen in 14.40m.

Baxenden's Commonwealth Games hope Kerry Gillibrand was in 1500m action in Birmingham finishing seventh in 4 minutes 17.53 seconds - well outside her best of 4:11.