Samantha Elliott is no stranger to success. When she competed at last year's staging of the GraceKennedy/

ISSA Boys and Girls' Athletic Championships, she won the Class Three Girls' 100 metre hurdles.

This year, she repeated that victory in Class Two, stamping her mark on the event and making her school, Immaculate Conception High, and her family proud.

THE STAR recently caught up with Elliott to learn more about this promising youngster?

Q: How old are you and what form are you in?

A : I'm 17 and I'm in fifth form.

Q: How many subjects will you be sitting and how do you find the time to balance it all?

A: I'm doing the sciences, Spanish, math, English language, information technology and religious education. After training I go to classes, so I get a chance to catch up. It's not hard, I just manage my time wisely.

Q: Does your training routine change when it gets close to exam time?

A: Yes, I train less now because my book is the focus right now. I want to make the World Youth team, but right now my exams are very important.

Q: What career would you like to pursue?

A: I want to be a physiother-apist.

Q: Did you choose this event (100m hurdles) or were you advised to try it? How long have you been doing it?

A: Well, I decided to try it. I went on a trip once and the coach on the trip told me to try it. I tried it and apparently it worked. I started doing it two years ago.

Q: How often do you train and do you find the hurdles gruelling?

A: I train five days per week. I don't really find it difficult right now. I have corrected most of my mistakes. At first it was hard, but my body has become conditioned to it so now it's easy.

Q: Do you have a special diet?

A: No, I don't have a special diet, but I try to eat healthy. I avoid sodas, fries and fatty foods.

Q: When you're not training or studying what do you like to do?

A: I like surfing the Internet, watching TV, listening to music and going to the movies.

Q: Which athletes do you look up to?

A: Well, Melaine Walker, and Danielle Jeffrey, she used to go to my school. She goes to Florida State University now. She ran the 100 and 200 metres at Champs.

Q: Who are your biggest rivals in your event?

A: Kimberly Golding, from Alpha, and Tonique Sobah, of Morant Bay High.

Q: What is your long-term goal, in terms of athletics?

A: I want to make the Olympic team. I want to go to London.

Q: Is your family supportive of your athletic career?

A: Yes. I have major support from my family, especially my aunt, mother and grandfather.