On
Camp with Kelly
FINUCANE
IS SET FOR AFRICAN ADVENTURE
IT IS an exciting
time for Laura Finucane, who opened a new chapter in her life when
she took up a place at Loughborough College last week.
The Pendle
Athletic Club athlete from Colne recently celebrated her 18th
Birthday with success in her A-levels, but in the last year she has
also come of age as an athlete.
In July she
reached the 800 metre final at the IAAF World Junior Championships
and the opportunities that have flowed from that achievement means
that she could spend as little as three weeks at college in her
first term.
Later this
month, Laura will going to Potchefstroom in South Africa for a four
week training camp with double Olympic Champion Kelly
Holmes.
Eight of the
UK's leading under 20 female athletes will take part in the 'On Camp
with Kelly' project at Holmes' major training base for the last
eight years, which is located to the South-West of Johannesburg.
The athletes
chosen have been identified as possible Olympic finalists in 2012.
Kelly Holmes
planned the camp back in January and said: "I
am as keen as ever to show the next generation of athletes all sides
of being a full time athlete, both good and bad and hope that these
girls will enjoy the experience and will return with a strong
determination to succeed."
Sponsors Norwich
Union added: "What
Kelly is doing is providing an important stepping stone for the
girls between grassroots athletics and elite level.
"It would
be great to think that the camp might unearth another gold medal
winner."
Laura's second
trip of the autumn will be to Melbourne, Australia, to compete in
the Commonwealth Youth Games.
As the fastest
under 20 400m runner in Britain and the World No 2 17-year-old in
the 800m she was given the choice of events. She chose the 800m, but
she will also run the shorter distance in the relay.
She flies to
Australia on November 25 to spend ten days acclimatising prior to
the Games.
Before she left
for Loughborough, she was presented with the first ever Rising Star
Award at the Lancashire Sports Award Dinner at Ewood Park.
To take the
trophy, Pendle nominee Laura had to beat 13 other talented young
borough nominees including Phillip Aspinall of Blackburn, Danielle
Walker from Burnley, James Kevan of Chorley, Leigh Lennon from
Hyndburn and Ribble Valley's Louise Highton.
Walker's father
David paid tribute commenting that all the runners-up would be
satisfied on this occasion to be second to Laura. She won a cash
bursary of £700 to help her fulfil her sporting ambitions, which
she intends to spend on kit and a new set of starting blocks.
Finucane's last
competition of the season ended on a high note as she competed for
her second club Sale Harriers of Manchester in the Junior European
Clubs Championship.
At a windy
Gateshead Stadium, she was third in the 200m as the team
successfully avoided relegation from the top flight of European
competition.
These words from
Warburton spokesman Alan Beardsworth will be endorsed by everyone
involved in local athletics. "We
are particularly pleased to be able to support Laura - she is an
exciting talent - and we wish her every success."
"I'm really
looking forward to the trip with Kelly,"
said the Laura.
"I
know what she's been through in her career and what happened to me
in Grosseto did toughen me up." |