Clitheroe has qualified for Team GB for the Beijing Olympics

Preston's Helen Clitheroe has qualified for the Beijing Olympics after winning the 3000m steeplechase at the British trials in Birmingham.

Clitheroe broke the UK record clocking a time of nine minutes and 36.98 seconds to earn an automatic place.

"I was delighted to win it in such a tough field," Clitheroe, 34, told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I'm so pleased. It means a lot to me as I'm coming towards the end of my career and this is special."

Clitheroe felt the result justified her decision in 2007 to switch events from the 1500m.

"It was a bit of a risk swapping events at such a late stage in my career, but I'm glad I did now," she said.

"I felt I'd done quite a lot of years at the 1500m and had a lot of opportunities. This was a new challenge and I felt I could help take the sport forward as this is the first time the steeplechase is going to be in the Olympic games."

This will be her second time as an Olympian having previously competed in the 2000 Sydney games.