A TALENTED athlete is following in the footsteps of both her dad and grandmother by throwing the javelin for England.

Colchester Institute student Jennifer Rose Morgan has earned a call-up for this weekend's Youth Nations Cup, in Ireland.

The 17-year-old will compete in the women's under-18 age group and is hoping to replicate the success of dad and coach Paul, who represented his country, and grandmother Rosemary, who won a Commonwealth Games silver medal before coaching Tessa Sanderson to Commonwealth success in Auckland.

"It's an incredible story and one you couldn't make up," said Paul.

"Jennifer has worked her socks off and done phenomenally well, especially when you consider this is only her third season.

"She's gone from just starting out to now being on the brink of her first international vest, so the progress she's made in a short amount of time is incredible.

"As both her dad and coach, I couldn't be more proud or delighted.

"I know I'm biased but, with hand on heart, I honestly believe she can be as good as Tessa or Fatima Whitbread (the former record-breaking javelin thrower, who won Olympic Games medals in 1984 and 1986).

"Her technique is outstanding and, in my opinion, the future is very exciting."

Jennifer's pedigree could hardly be better, given her family's great success in the sport.

Grandmother Rosemary, who passed away in 2014, won her silver medal at the 1962 Commonwealth Games, in Perth, Australia.

After retiring, she moved into coaching and worked with Sanderson - a six-time Olympian in the javelin, from 1976 to 1996.

Sanderson won a gold medal in 1984 and, in 1996, she became the second track and field athlete to compete at six Olympics.

Rosemary coached her to a Commonwealth Games gold in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1990.

Dad Paul followed suit and won his first senior international vest at the age of 23.

He went on to finish third at both the World Schools Championships and European Schools Championships.

"It must be in the genes because there's a lot of family history there," added Paul.

"Jennifer was into martial arts and competed for the DKBK club, in Harwich.

"She only became interested in the javelin when she had to do a school project on someone who inspired her - and chose her nan.

"The rest is history, although she's had to work very hard and make many sacrifices to get this far.

"She's now ranked 14th in Britain, fourth in the under-20s and first in the under-18s.

"And it was at this year's Essex County Championships that she really put herself on the map, throwing a personal best 44 metres and 65 centimetres.

"It was largely based on that performance that she's earned this selection."

The Youth Nations Cup is being held in Dublin this weekend, with Jennifer, of Willow Way, Harwich, due to compete at 1.30pm on Saturday.

The 17-year-old is a former pupil at both Chase Lane Primary School and Manningtree High School.