Hurdler Eilidh Child is a step closer to the World Championships in Berlin after smashing her personal best for the fourth time this season.

The Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport supported 22-year-old clocked an incredible 55.46 seconds in the 400m hurdles in Prague, securing the UK Athletics 'A' qualifying standard.

That was an improvement of 0.06 seconds on her recent winning time in the Inter-Counties Championships at Bedford and more than one and a half seconds better than her best at the start of the season.

Child finished second behind America's Lashinda Demus at the Josef Odlozil Memorial Meeting in the Czech Republic but beat two Beijing Olympics finalists.  It was also her first opportunity of the season to compete against world class opposition and she rose to the occasion.

“The race on Monday was against brilliant competition and to go out and be amongst people that are world class made the difference,” she said. 

“In my last couple of races I’d be into the home straight and coming to my last hurdle on my own. 

“In Prague there were five or six girls right next to me and obviously the winner was ahead so you really push yourself.”

Next month Child heads to the UK Championships in Birmingham to hopefully secure her place in the British team heading for Germany.