Iona Lake has given her hopes of qualifying for next year's Commonwealth Games in Australia a major boost.

The Hainford 24-year-old has rocketed to prominence in the women's 3000m steeplechase, winning the British and English titles, as well as setting a new personal best when winning the England Manchester International.

• 'Shock' British title joy sparks World Championship steeplechase hope for City of Norwich Athletic Club's Iona Lake

That earned the City of Norwich Athletics Club member an invitation to compete in the prestigious World Challenge Series meeting in Zagreb on Tuesday – when she took almost 10 seconds off her PB.

Coming up against six Kenyans, a couple of Americans, an Australian and Great Britain's World Championship representative Rosie Clarke, Lake finished eighth in nine minutes, 39.03secs – nearly six seconds inside the Commonwealth qualifying time. Now the former Reepham High School pupil and her coach, Pauline Ash, have to wait for the selectors to confirm her place in the England team that will travel to Brisbane in April.

• English title joy for City of Norwich Athletic Club trio Iona Lake, Callum Brown and Danny Nobbs