Cornwall's Jemma Simpson has been called up to represent England in the 800m at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March 2006. BBC Radio Cornwall reports that 21-year-old Simpson has been selected to replace double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, who retired on Tuesday.
Simpson won silver in the 800m at the Europa Championships in 2005 when running as a replacement for Holmes.
Jemma's father Ted said that "the whole family is over the moon" at the news.
Simpson, who is currently studying at Twickenham, is originally from Polgooth but runs for Newquay.
After a brilliant junior career at 800m, Simpson's progress in the senior ranks was hampered by injury that forced her out of action for a year, but she returned in May 2005 with a personal best of 2:02.52.
She followed her silver in the Europa Championships with second place in the 800m at both the AAA and European Under 23 meetings.
MMIX
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