Britain's men also won their first medal of the Championships in the final event, taking silver in the 4x400m relay.

 

Twell, an 18-year-old from Aldershot, won a brusing race in 4min 15.09sec with Pallant, her 19-year-old training partner, claiming bronze in 4:17.06.

 

Twell, who missed several months of training with injury early in the season, kicked away with 200m remaining and won by 15m.

 

She said: "I am very happy.

 

"Being a World junior champion it feels really great.

 

"I came here to win and I did it.

 

"Now I don't think about anything else but to keep running and keep improving.

“The last bend was so quick and them before I knew it I saw the finish line and I just thought ‘Go Go Go'.

"I want to know how quick I did that last 200m.

“I think it’s the experience of competing against different athletes, especially the Africans trying to dominate the race.

"They try to go to the front and slow the pace down and I didn’t let her do it today so I think it shows mentally im getting stronger.

"I just have to keep my feet on the ground and keep working hard at becoming a world class senior.

“I can’t wait to race at Crystal Palace [at the Aviva London Grand Prix] in a couple of weeks.

"This event was amazing and it’s really reflective of the atmosphere at Crystal Palace.”

 

Twell, the daughter of an army major currently based in Cyprus, has targetted the 2012 Olympics since London were awarded the Games three years ago.

 

She is never without her 2012 London badge as she plots her course to the elite and a home-turf triumph.

 

"I live it, breathe it, dream it," said the strength and conditioning science student at St Mary's University College in Twickenham, the two-time European Cross Country champion.

 

"It's a whole life package."

 

Twell could now be rewarded for her victory by being named in Britain's team for the Beijing Olympics when it is announced today.

 

Pallant, a protege of double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, like Twell is coached by Mick Woods.

 

Until the age of 12 she played in boys football and cricket teams.

 

She is a part-time lifeguard.

Pallant said: “I sat down with my coach Mick Woods and he reminded me that there are three medals and why couldn’t I come home with one.

"He wouldn’t have said I could get a medal if I couldn’t’ so I was feeling confident and I thought, ‘You know what, I’m going to go for it.’

“I ran one of my worst races tactically, I didn’t enjoy the start of the race at all but luckily I pulled it together for the second half.

"It’s just a dream, I’m really happy.”

The men's relay team of Louis Persent, Robert Davis, Nigel Levine and Jordan McGrath came second in 3:05.82, nearly two seconds behind the winning United States team.

Davis said: “It’s just amazing, what a team effort.

"It’s been great, we couldn’t ask for anything more really. “

It meant Britain finished the Championships with one gold medal, two silver and two bronze to finish 11th overall in the final table.

The final medal table was: