COACH Colin Baross says there isn’t much expectation on Polly Maton when she enters Sunday’s T47 long jump final at the World Para Athletics Championships in London.

The 17-year-old from Urchfont will compete fresh from her fifth-placed finish in the T47 100m on Wednesday night and despite suffering with a slight calf injury in her left leg, Baross was happy with the performance the teenager turned in.

However, with the problem affecting her take-off leg, Baross admits his charge will be taking something of a leap into the unknown.

“I thought it was a very good performance (in the 100m), I was worried because she had this small tear in her calf,” said the Team Bath coach. “I wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to compete, but she did, she ran through it and was able to get fifth.

“Fifth in the world with a gammy leg isn’t bad is it. She did say the leg didn’t hurt too much, but it made her a bit cautious.

“I thought she might have a chance to be in with the medals, but they have all improved the same as Polly has but Polly has more to give in the future,” Baross watched from the stands along with the Dauntsey’s School student’s friends and family on Wednesday evening, but is refusing to expect too much from the Rio 2016 Paralympian in the field event this weekend.

“It is her take-off leg and in long jump you put an awful lot more force on the leg than she will have when she was sprinting,” he added.

“We will see how she goes, she has had a few days to let it recover so she is in the lap of the Gods at the moment.

“Fingers crossed she will be able to go out and jump well. We try to make her take a step forward at each of these competitions.

“We want her to get closer to the medals and closer to the podium each time and I think we would have done that if she didn’t have this injury.”

Speaking after her 100m final race earlier this week, Maton was quick to thank those who had contributed in her journey to the capital.

She said: "So many people have helped me get here – my coach Colin Baross, my family, the National Lottery, British Athletics and also amazing support from the local community.

“St Mary’s Calne Sports Centre who let me train in their gym for free, the University of Bath who have allowed me to train in their elite sessions, the Lions Club who got me involved in athletics – the local community has just been amazing.”