CHEPSTOW'S Mollie Courtney admits she is desperate to end her 80m hurdles career on a high as she prepares to make her Sainsbury's School Games debut in Sheffield.

The 16-year-old, who attends Chepstow School, is set to step up to the full 100m hurdles from next season onwards with under-17 competition making way for under-20 races.

She has enjoyed much success over the 80m distance this season claiming silver at the English Schools' Championships, where she set a new personal best in the semi-finals.

That personal best stands at 11.52 seconds with Courtney having set her sights firmly on lowering that mark when she makes her School Games bow at the Don Valley Stadium.

"I am just hoping that I will get another personal best," said Courtney. "I came second at the English Schools, which I was never expecting.

"So this season has definitely been my most successful so far. I also competed at the Schools International, where I finished fourth.

"And even though I was disappointed with finishing fourth it was a great experience and I left knowing I could have raced a lot better.

"I expect the competition to be tougher at the School Games because there will be a lot more people competing but it will be good for me to come up against that challenge."

Courtney will represent the South West at the School Games, which is set to see 1,600 athletes descend on Sheffield and compete across 12 different sports.

And, having battled her nerves to silver at the English Schools' Championships in July, Courtney is confident she will adapt to the changes the School Games bring.

"I am a bit nervous going into the School Games but I am excited because it is my first time I will be competing at them," she added.

"My coach and I have been working on my nerves because when I get to big competitions I tend to panic but that has settled this season which is a real positive.

"I hope to get to the English Schools next year in the 100m hurdles and I am looking forward to making the step up because I have already adjusted to the higher height.

"When I am faced with disappointment in racing I just remember the Olympics and that really pushes me further as I would love to be taking part in the Games one day."

The Sainsbury's 2013 School Games, which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, takes place in Sheffield from 12th to 15th September. Visit http://www.2013schoolgames.com">www.2013schoolgames.com for more information.