Cirencester's Wendy Jones has had a good first year as a veteran and has set her sights on improving still further, writes Martin Duff "A lot of my targets are geared towards the veteran ranks and I would like to achieve international vests for both running and age-group triathlon but more than that I want to be competitive and successful in veteran championship races and I'm also hoping to be selected for the forthcoming veterans home international in Dublin," said the 36-year-old.

Jones has a namesake, who runs for Royston but is in the age group above this would be veteran international who notes that: "since becoming a veteran I have finished in the top three either overall or as a veteran in 23 out of 24 events, winning outright on many occasions." Her top 5km time of 16:53 ranks third in the Athletics Weekly listings behind Kate Ramsey and Lucy Elliott and has set pb's in most events in which she has competed, apart from 10km where her 34.55 was marginally outside her 34:18 lifetime best.

Jones felt that a cold hampered her performance in the Bath half so says: "my short-term target is to run around 77-78 minutes in the Stroud Half Marathon this month." After being sick in London this year she struggled home outside three hours but adds: "my coach believes that I have a good marathon in me with 2:40 a realistic target, so I won't rest easily either until I have satisfied my aims in the marathon."

Unlike some veterans Jones says she " started running at an early age, winning my first county title at 11 and have won more than 20 county medals since, but as a youngster my best performance was probably ninth in the 1984 English Schools XC Championships. In all I competed in six English Schools, either track or XC," added Jones, who said that her inspiration came from watching Coe & Ovett at the Moscow Olympics but adds: "It is slightly frustrating that the times I did then would probably result in medals today."

"My best placing in the National XC was 20th in 1998," said Jones who has also represented the Midlands in inter-area races. Partner Justin also runs and competes in triathlons and it is the cross training that she feels has helped her back into running after having a baby daughter, Poppy three years ago. "This summer I competed in triathlons with great success. I have found that the cross training regime, incorporating swimming and cycling has actually complemented my running rather than interfered with it. Whilst not wishing to tempt fate, I have not had any injuries or even little niggles since converting to this method of training," said Jones

"In recent years I have also received help and advice from two club colleagues, Bob Ferris (coach, sports therapist, runner and age-group triathlon international) and David Wright (a former 2:20 marathoner)," added Jones. Wright said: "Wendy has utterly dominated the road and cross-country scene in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Oxon for many years. Her main strength has always been cross-country and her record in the leagues is fantastic: in the Oxford League she has won outright 8 out of the last 9 races (she went slightly off course in the other & was just beaten) and won the individual title 4 or 5 times, this is against some strong opposition, particularly from Headington, as well as her own team mates Ellen Leggate and Jane Wassell, who was first veteran in the Bristol Half. She's had some good races with Shona Crombie-Hicks in the last year, I think they're all square at the moment and seeing her 2:38 at Berlin last week has certainly made Wendy realise her own capabilities."

Wright also said: "Wendy has sent off her application for the Vets International, but hasn't heard back yet. It seems to me that it can be quite difficult to break into these teams. In my view not only should she be picked, but she would be very competitive at the front of the field."