literally.

The 16-year-old Bermudian, a senior at St. George's School in Newport, Rhode Island, is rapidly making a name for herself as a runner, in the same vein as mother Peggy who has been a dominant force in women's road racing in Bermuda for several years.

In inter-school cross-country events this year Ashley remains unbeaten, and according to her school coach, Ted Hersey, produced "one of the best comeback victories in years'' when she won the individual title and helped her school to second place overall in the recent Newport Athletic Club cross country championships at Portsmouth Abbey.

Couper also recently clocked a time of 21.16 on the St. George's cross-country course which, said Hersey, placed her third on the school's all-time top ten.

In a letter to Couper's parents, coach Hersey wrote: "Ashley is having a banner year in cross-country. Currently she is undefeated against some of the best runners the ISL and public schools have to offer.

"In the county meet she was 80 metres behind a girl who had lost only one race in two years... with less than 800 metres to go she started her kick and won by 100 metres.

"This was one of the most amazing comebacks I have seen in years.

"Her 21.16 time on our course on Saturday against St. Marks places her third on our all-time top ten list for the St. George's course. The second place girl ran for Brown University; the top girl, June Erdman, was later captain of cross-country and track at Princeton.'' Couper's Newport victory was well documented in the local newspaper, The Daily News, writer Rick McGowan describing in detail how the Bermudian reeled in long-time leader and favourite Shelly Reberry of Portsmouth in the dying stages before finishing with a bistering kick.