Athletics: Highs and lows; OLYMPICS: Julie recovers from horror smash to stay on the road to Beijing.

Byline: By Nick Pullen

BY RIGHTS, Julie Crane shouldn't be taking part in athletics at all.

The Birmingham-based high jump star cheated death four years ago after surviving an horrific car crash. while driving between Derby and Stoke.

She said: "I don't remember very much about it at all and I don't know what happened.

"All I know is that I collided with a lorry and shouldn't have walked away from it, such was the damage to my car, which was a total write-off.

"I suffered numerous injuries at the time - one of which was a prolapsed disc and as a direct result of the accident, I had to have back surgery last year."

Despite these damaging setbacks, Julie still has her sights set on competing at the Beijing Olympics this year.

First she has to crack the 1.95metres qualifying height - but is confident she can achieve that mark this summer.

Julie confirmed: "I didn't have an outdoor season last summer, or indoor one this year for that matter because of the back operation.

"But I'm fit and healthy now and I've got a good few months conditioning work behind me.

"I've been churning out 1.88s, 89s and 90s in training, so it's looking good."

She underlined her potential at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne where she won the silver medal.

However, Julie believes it could have been gold, but was denied her last attempt at 1.91 metres. She admitted: "I did feel cheated at the time. The officials claimed I'd over-stepped the mark when I was lining the attempt up, although I knew I hadn't.

"What proved more annoying was the fact I'd cleared that height twice in training that very week!"

Born in Nottingham, but representing Wales and Sale Harriers, Julie arrived in Birmingham 10 years ago to study at university where she obtained a masters degree in maths and statistics.

But after graduating from Birmingham University, Julie remained in the city, working initially in Solihull, but is now a credit risk manager at Virgin Media's contact centre in the Mailbox.

Virgin have since fuelled Julie's Olympic ambition further by granting her an 18-month fully paid sabbatical, so that she can train full-time.

Julie insists: "They've been absolutely fantastic and so supportive. They've even hired someone for 18 months as a replacement for me.

"Despite all the problems I've had, at no time have they put any pressure on me."

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BACK ON TRACK... Great Barr-based high jumper Julie Crane has overcome surgery following a road accident and is now in training (below) for the Beijing Olympics.