Jessica Ennis's unorthodox journey to the Olympics - in pictures

The Dorothy Hyman Stadium in Cudworth near Barnsley has a 600-seater stand and spartan facilities, hardly the kind of venue you would expect to host one of the country's - in fact, the world's - top athletes Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

But Ennis, Britain's heptathlete star and an Olympic medal prospect this summer, has long practised at low-key events at provincial tracks Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

This particular meeting - the Yorkshire County Athletics Association Track & Field Championships - was dominated by young athletes, many of them still teenagers Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Ennis's arrival triggered a flurry of autograph requests from young admirers. She used to compete at this very track as a junior and still holds the venue's under-15s high-jump record Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Things have not changed much down the years. The weighty starting blocks are still transported around the track by any means possible Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

An official raises his starting pistol Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Despite their limited numbers, the crowd were a vociferous bunch Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

With Ennis watching from the sidelines, the young athletes had added incentive to perform well. Here, Jason Fincham-Dukes wins the under-17s 100m hurdles final - an event Ennis knows well Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

In the long jump, Anthony Timms from Sale Harriers claims top spot with an impressive leap Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

A handful of spectators watch the men's 5,000m final from the perimeter Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

The bell is rung to signal one lap to go in a women's middle distance event Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Meanwhile, Ennis gets ready for her own events and, even then, is met by well-wishers - many of them her rivals Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Some spectators watched proceedings from grassy banks surrounding the track Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

While some were sipping tea and others preparing for their races Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Ennis chose to compete in two events - the javelin (one of her weaker disciplines) and the shot put (where one of her rivals included a 67-year-old pensioner) Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Rosanna Marino leads the senior women's 100m hurdles final Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

It was the javelin, largely, that cost Ennis the world title last year, both on the day as she struggled to throw further than 39.95m, and over the season, as a series of disappointing throws left Ennis in the B pool competition in Daegu, isolated from her rivals Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

An official clears the way ready for the start of the event Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Fans watch events eagerly from the sidelines. Here, former international athlete Veronica Boden cheers on Kristie Edwards in a short sprint Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

A clutch of officials watch from the stands Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Ennis launches the javelin into the air Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

And watches anxiously as it drafts through the air Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Ennis continues to watch the flight of her throw Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

And, no surprise, Ennis is the winner Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

Ennis celebrates her win Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian

In two month's time there is every chance she could be walking away from an Olympic podium with a medal around her neck Photograph: Christopher Thomond for The Guardian