The Alnwick race ace, 16, has been picked by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes to try and qualify for an exclusive mentoring initiative – On Camp with Kelly.

The Morpeth Harrier is one of 15 athletes to be selected for the camp – a mentoring scheme for talented young female middle distance athletes.

Laura, winner of 1500m golds at both the English Schools Championships (Intermediate) and the UK School Games last year, has been invited to attend a selection day at the UK Athletics High Performance Centre in Birmingham on Sunday. The athletes will take part in various challenges and will be assessed by Dame Kelly, staff from the On Camp with Kelly project and representatives from UK Athletics.

If successful Laura will attend a Norwich Union-funded educational camp at Loughborough University from April 1 to 10 where she will learn about what it takes to become a world-class athlete.

Laura said: "I'm really looking forward to it.

"It's a great opportunity for me and it will help me develop.

"I also think it's nice that you get noticed for doing well and you get selected for different things."


Dame Kelly, winner of 800m and 1500m golds at Athens in 2004, said: "All the girls invited to the selection day are very talented young athletes as their performances in 2007 show.

"At the selection, I will be looking for evidence that they have a real desire to achieve and the determination to become a world-class international athlete.
"If the athletes demonstrate those qualities they will be invited to become part of On Camp with Kelly."

Before Laura's trip to Birmingham, she heads to Leeds on Saturday to take part in the North of England Cross Country Championships.