TEENAGE sprint sensation Amy Spencer has been tipped for the top by British track legend Steve Cram.

The 17-year-old Bolton School student broke her own UK junior 200m record for the second time in a week on Sunday in the senior AAA's indoor championships at Birmingham.

Her 23.20 performance qualified her for the World Indoor Championships on the same track next month and brought a tribute from middle distance legend Cram.

"She is still only 17 and looks like she has a great future ahead of her," said Cram, the former 1,500m, mile and 2,000m world record holder.

Aspull girl Amy finished second on Sunday, three hundredths of a second behind Ciara Sheehy, who set a new Irish record. It was revenge for Sheehy who was beaten by Amy in the Birmingham Games a week earlier.

Amy's time put her third on the UK all time list for 200m indoors and in line to run against the best in the world in next month's championships.

Her electric start to the season has come as a big surprise as she had not entered a single competition nor done any speed work before last Sunday's Birmingham Games.

Amy says she cannot believe how well she is running at such an early stage of the season.

"It is unbelievable. I didn't realise from training that I was in that sort of form," she said.

"I have knocked another tenth off my personal best and I am really pleased with that.

"If I am selected for the World Championships I think I will go but I will have to discuss it first with my coach (her father Graham)."

Cram marvelled at Bolton's prodigious talent, enthusing: "That was marvellous running by Amy.

"She went very close to taking this AAA's title and she obviously loves the indoor boards.

"You can't take anything away from her, she ran a very quick time. She keeps producing the goods and showing just why everyone keeps talking about he," he said.