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Innes Fitzgerald, a 19-year-old from Exeter, has made headlines by breaking Zola Budd's European Under-20 5,000m record, which had stood since 1985. Fitzgerald clocked an impressive 14:39.56 at the London Diamond League meeting, surpassing Budd's time by over eight seconds. This performance not only places her fifth on the UK all-time list but also secures her a spot in the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Fitzgerald, a two-time European Under-20 cross country champion, is now focused on securing a top-two finish at the British Championships to guarantee her selection for Tokyo. Even if she doesn't make the top two, she could still be considered for a discretionary selection. "I'm going to go out there and just run to get in those top two spots," Fitzgerald told BBC Spotlight. "I don't want to push it too early and then find that I lose out because I've pushed it too early or blown up a bit."

Under the guidance of former Great Britain runner Jo Pavey and her husband Gavin, Fitzgerald has steadily climbed the ranks. She is currently the second-fastest British woman over 5,000m this year, trailing only reigning UK champion Hannah Nuttall. Her latest personal best has propelled her to 33rd in the world rankings.

Fitzgerald, a sports science student at Exeter University, remains optimistic about her future in athletics. "I think the sky's the limit in terms of what we're doing," she said. "It's nice to see the improvements - on Saturday at the Diamond League it was great to get the time."

However, Fitzgerald's journey to Tokyo comes with mixed feelings. An ardent climate change campaigner, she was named Young Athlete of the Year in the 2023 BBC Green Sports Awards after declining to compete in the World Cross Country Championships in Australia due to the environmental impact of her flight. She has since reconciled her need to compete globally with her passion for raising environmental awareness.

"I hate flying and that's kind of the end of it, but sometimes there are decisions you've got to make and competitions you've got to go to," she said. "Ultimately if I go and do well it will help to raise my platform anyway and I can then speak to a broader audience about the things I care about and the issues about the climate."

Fitzgerald's remarkable achievements and her commitment to sustainability make her a standout figure in the world of athletics. As she prepares for Tokyo, she continues to inspire both on and off the track.