LIVERPOOL Harriers duo Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jack Meredith are ready for the biggest test of their blossoming careers.

The pair fly to Italy on Monday as part of the Great Britain team for the IAAF World Youth Championships which has attracted participants from some 180 countries.

UK officials have selected only 19 athletes for the under-18s event in Sudtirol as they are only taking those youngsters they believe have a genuine chance of challenging for a medal.

Johnson-Thompson will compete in the heptathlon next Friday and Saturday, while Meredith goes in the 110m hurdles heats next Wednesday with the semis and final the following day.

Both 16-year-olds warmed up for the championships with medals at last weekend’s Aviva Under-20 Championships and European Trials in Bedford.

Johnson-Thompson won the women’s high jump with a clearance of 1.74m and took bronze in the long jump with 6.10m.

Meredith set a PB of 13.90 into a challenging headwind as he claimed silver in the 110m hurdles final.

The duo’s performances in Italy will be closely monitored as on July 13 the final wave of selections for the European Junior Championships in Serbia will be released.

DAVID FORRESTER has been selected in the Great Britain team for the European Under-23 Championships in Lithuania later this month.

The 19-year-old St Helens Sutton runner earned his place on the plane to Kaunas after finishing third in the 1500m in 3:45.88 at the Aviva England U23 Championships in Bedford last weekend.

Forrester lowered his PB to 3:40.81 at Watford last month.