Top athletics prospect Laura McDonald struck double gold and smashed the championship record in Manchester last weekend.The 12-year-old Wymondham High School pupil, who lives in Barford, won her age group in the Young Athletes Quadrathon - running, throwing and jumping her way to 288 points, beating the U13 girls' championship record by 16 points.

Top athletics prospect Laura McDonald struck double gold and smashed the championship record in Manchester last weekend.

The 12-year-old Wymondham High School pupil, who lives in Barford, won her age group in the Young Athletes Quadrathon - running, throwing and jumping her way to 288 points, beating the U13 girls' championship record by 16 points.

Proud dad Ian said: "In a demonstration of how friendly the event had been, a member of Liverpool Athletic Club approached Laura to join a multi-club relay team. Laura running the final leg of the last event, rocketed past the leader on the finishing straight, to help her team win a well-deserved gold."

Reflecting on the day he said: "It was just fabulous. She absolutely stormed it. It just showed us what potential she has got for the future - she's such a good all-rounder.

"She may be slightly too young for London 2012 but she has got her eyes set on getting into the national squad by the time she is 17."

In Manchester, Laura's first event was the 100m sprint, where she won her heat in a creditable 13.39, placing her second overall and she then threw a massive 9.59m in the shot for a maximum 80 points (championship record).

In the 800m Laura was third in her heat (2:47) and then produced an explosive 4.50m jump on her first long jump for another record to seal the title and U13 girls' record.

She is ranked number one in the country in her age group at javelin, shot and 70m hurdles and is trying to break the all-time UK U13 girls' javelin record - which is less than 2m away from her current distance.

She has thrown that distance before, but it was not in a recognised competition.

Laura travelled down to Watford on Wednesday night to try and break the record but 10 minutes after arriving at the track there was a heavy thunderstorm. "Lightning and a slippery run-up put the dampers on things," said her dad. "There are plenty of opportunities this season though. She really trains hard and is very determined."

He said she had an advantage over many of her rivals in her throwing strength, which garners her crucial extra points.

"A lot of multi-eventers come from a running background but she has come from the other direction, she is a strong thrower who has improved her running. She has great upper body strength. Nobody in the country in her age group can touch her in javelin."