WITH a London Marathon trophy tucked up in her cabinet, teenage wheelchair wonder Rochelle Woods now has her sights set on the 2004 Athens Paralympics pentathlon prize.

Rochelle, 15, of Wembley Avenue, Layton, covered three miles in nine minutes 25 seconds to win the junior wheelchair section in the London Marathon this month.

And she met Prince Andrew who joked with her and asked: "Is this the kind of thing you do for fun? Well, you must be mad!"

Talented athlete Rochelle has picked up more than 70 national and international trophies and medals in five years and this season is competing in championship meetings in Cardiff and Switzerland.

The Highfield School pupil had planned a career as a PE teacher, but when she was 11 Rochelle fell out of a tree and broke her back .

"I didn't feel there was any point in sitting around feeling sorry for myself. I've just had to make a few changes," she said.

"I live life to the full and things aren't much different from before. I still want a career in sport -- a professional athlete would be good."

Her heroines are Sally Gunnell, Paula Radcliffe and, of course, Tanni Grey-Thompson whom she beat in the Wakefield 10 kilometre warm-up race the week before the London Marathon.

"I was delighted, but you have to remember Tanni had only just had a baby two months before the race," laughs Rochelle.

Her mother Carol describes Rochelle as "inspirational" and brothers Kyle, 14 and Callum, 13, are proud of their plucky sister. Kyle goes out on his bike to train with Rochelle three times a week.

She has the backing of several local runners including Brian Porter, a sports therapy lecturer at Blackpool and the Fylde College Ansdell Campus. He ran the marathon in fours hours 20 minutes to raise cash towards Rochelle's trip to the 2004 Olympics.

"Rochelle's parents and friends have already raised money for a new competition chair. The running costs are very high, with wheels alone costing up to £500. Rochelle deserves every opportunity to be in Athens," said Brian.

You can still pledge your support for Rochelle by emailing Brian at bpo@blackpool.ac.uk