By Alex Hill BBC Blast Reporter, Norfolk

McDonald threw 43:13m to win her gold in Sheffield

A rising teenage athletics star from Norfolk, Laura McDonald, is taking the sport by storm, breaking national records and shooting up the UK rankings for her age group.

The 14-year-old from Barford is a pupil at Wymondham High School.

She told BBC Radio Norfolk: "It's nice to be doing well and as I get older I hope to keep progressing and become recognised on the international stage."

McDonald, who is the UK Under-15 number one for javelin, won gold at the English Schools Championships in Sheffield last month.

She recently broke both the county triple jump and javelin records at the Norfolk Athletics Championships.

She also competes in shot putt, hurdles and triple jump and, although a relative new comer to triple jump, is already breaking records.

She is the current number one in the UK rankings in her age group for the event after jumping within 2cm of the South of England Championships record at the competition in Ashford.

The teenager believes that the transition between different events benefits her performance across the board.

"They all help me to get technique, movement, power and strength which are key factors in being successful.

It would be lovely to think that Laura could be at 2012 and it's feasible that she could achieve the qualifying distance. Ian McDonald, Laura's father

"The power I need in my legs for javelin, also gives me a boost when it comes to events such as the triple jump," said McDonald.

Despite still being young, McDonald appears mature beyond her years keeping her feet firmly on the ground .

"My coach Tim Newenham is brilliant and is always there when I need help. My parents are so supportive and I can always talk to my friends as well.

"I have to work around training and school, but would never use that as an excuse because it's part of what I do. "

The 14 year old has to spread her time between studying and training

Not only is Laura busy competing and studying for her GCSEs, she is also a Norfolk Ambassador, helping out with sport in and around the community.

"I'm supporting sport in Norfolk and whatever I can do to help out with developing sport in our county, I'm happy to do," she said.

Laura was talent spotted while competing in a biathlon event at school and with the 2012 Olympic games not far away her father Ian is keeping his hopeful she could be competing in London.

"It would be lovely to think that Laura could be at 2012 and it's feasible that she could achieve the qualifying distance," he said.

"Laura would be throwing at the bottom of the age group and would be amongst one of the youngest competitors. That is a lot of pressure on her.

"Laura competing at 2012 is a lovely thought and we'll be hoping she can go there," he added.

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