Laura's aiming for peak performance
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31st August 2007
CUMBRIA’S triple British title-holder Laura Park is aiming for more glory at the World Mountain Championships in Switzerland after rounding off a highly-successful track season at the UK School Games last Sunday.
Laura, 15, from Dearham, could not reproduce the top form that had seen her take national titles in fell-running, cross-country and track athletics in the last 12 months as she finished fifth in the 3,000 metre event in Coventry. The Ellenborough Athletics Club runner admitted afterwards that she was far from her best at the games but said she was determined to remain positive ahead of the winter season. “I wasn’t very pleased with how I did,” said Laura, who goes to Netherhall School in Maryport. “I didn’t feel right going around the track and I was very nervous beforehand. I think nerves got the better of me in the end. “I’m usually quite bouncy going around the track but I didn’t feel like that at the weekend and my lap times were down.” Laura finished 11 seconds behind gold medallist Ciara Mageean in 10.04.59. Kate Avery took the silver medal, with Beth Carter picking up the bronze. Laura has beaten all three of them this season but like her hero Paula Radcliffe, the Cumbrian schoolgirl will not let her recent disappointment cloud her overall goal. “It’s too early to say whether I will go to the London Olympics in 2012,” she added. “I enjoyed the Olympic village that they created at the UK School Games and it felt good to be like an Olympic athlete for the weekend. Five years is a long time but I’m hoping I can compete there.” Laura’s next big race ahead of the new cross-country season is in Switzerland on September 15 at the World Mountain Championships. Besides the three British crowns she has won in different running disciplines in the last year, Laura picked up another national title earlier this month when she became the English fell running champion after winning four out four races in a series over the summer at Keswick, Sedbergh, Skipton and Burnley. The Big Lottery Fund, which has an £850million track record in funding grass-roots sport, is supporting the UK School Games.