Laura makes a Big Splash at Nationals
Borough of Stockton swimmer and Tees Active Sports Academy member Laura Allison made her mark at the ASA National Age Group championships in Sheffield by winning a sliver and four bronze medals. Laura, swimming in a tough 12 year old age group won her first National medal in the gruelling 400 individual medley with a fantastic swim of 5.08.70 in the final for 3rd place and bronze. This spurred Laura on to further top drawer performances to claim bronze medals in the 200 breaststroke (2.45.71), 200IM (2.27.70) and the 200 backstroke where having qualified as 7th fastest she came through from lane 2 taking nearly 4 seconds off her heat time to set a fantastic new personal best of 2.26.62.
The highlight of the week though was her performance in the 100 breaststroke. She set a new personal best of 1.17.04 in the heat but went on take more than a second off this in a great final to claim silver in a time of 1.15.96.
Borough of Stockton Age Group Head Coach, Fred Kirby, was extremely pleased with Laura’s performance over the week and said “Laura has worked very hard all season and got her reward. She has not missed a training session this year proving that consistency of training brings the best results. Laura swam 11 life time best performances from 14 gruelling swims. I feel she has the capability to become a great swimmer”.
Laura’s mother Michelle added” Laura is grinning from ear to ear at the moment and we are all delighted with her performance, Laura and coach Fred have worked so hard this year to be able to achieve these results”
Laura is keeping up the Allison family swimming reputation as older brother Matthew has just won a silver medal in the 400m individual medley at the ASA National Youth Championships and has been identified and selected by British swimming as part of their targeted group of talented young swimmers who have the necessary traits to achieve its goals at London 2012
If you require any further information on Tees Active sports Academy contact Academy Manager Allan McDermott on (01642) 528772.