A WORCESTER-born New York-based athlete is taking the marathon world by storm.

Rebecca Gentry's speedy improvement over the 26.2-mile distance has earned an invitation to the Olympic trials in Atlanta, USA, next year.

Gentry, who studied at the former The Alice Ottley School in Worcester until 2003, has caught the eye this year in marathons in Hong Kong, Boston and her home city.

The 33-year-old left England for the USA in June 2018 to join American exercise equipment and media company Peloton as a tread instructor.

And she has built up a big following in the running world.

Gentry was the first non-elite female to finish at the New York City Marathon earlier this month.

She clocked two hours 37 minutes one second for a stunning 12-minute personal best to secure her Olympic trials invitation with the standard set at 2.45.

Gentry had done the Hong Kong race in 2.53.39 and the Boston run in the USA in 2.49.39.

She also competed in The Speed Project relay run over 340 miles with five team-mates.

They won the event which went from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to add to a previous success from two years ago for Gentry who will hope to increase her race pace further.