Dereham's Will Smith has been selected by UK Athletics to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 2011 IWAS World Junior Athletics Championships.

The event takes place in Dubai from April 14-21, with the GB squad flying out to the Middle East on the Sunday before.

Northgate High School pupil Smith, 15, will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m in the T54 wheelchair racing class.

Last year at the same event in the Czech Republic, Smith won four silver medals for his nation in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m disciplines, competing in the under-16 age group.

But this time around, Smith steps up to the under-18 group – despite still being up to two years younger than some of his international competition.

The Westfield racer will renew his rivalry with German athlete David Scherer – who took four gold medals in 2010 – as well as Australian Declan Young, who was a four-time bronze medal winner last year.

Smith's training over the winter has been hard – under guidance from coach Jenny Archer, who is based at Kingston upon Thames and has had the likes of current world and Paralympic champion David Weir under her wing in the past.

Now Smith is focused on working on race sharpness at the UEA Sportspark track in Norwich, along with conditioning sessions at the Parkwood Leisure centre in Dereham.

With the London 2012 Paralympics on the horizon, the 2011 World Junior Championships represent a great opportunity for young athletes to set competitive times – and catch the eye of the selectors.

Smith also competes for the City of Norwich Athletic Club.