Chorley's Leonard aiming to make history

2:31pm Friday 11th July 2008

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ALISON Leonard could make history tonight by becoming the first British female to win a medal at the World Junior Champion-ships.

Competing in the 800m, the 18-year-old Blackburn Harrier booked her place in this evening’s final after finishing fastest qualifier in the semi-final heat in Poland on Wednesday night.

Leonard, from Chorley, who is mentored by double Athens Olympic medalist Dame Kelly Holmes as part of the On Camp with Kelly initiative, won the third and final heat in a time of 2.04.47, some two seconds off her personal best.

The time, however, marked a further improvement for Leonard from her previous outing earlier in the week, when she clocked 2.08.06 in the opening heat in Bydgoszcz.

Jemma Simpson and Lynne Robinson have previously scored fourth places in the competition 2002 and 1988 respectively.

And Leonard will be hoping to go at least one better, although the ambitious teenager will be looking at the gold medal after impressing in qualifying.

She will be in lane six and is under starting orders at 6.15pm GMT.

l THE Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative supports Britain’s young sporting hopefuls on their journey to London 2012. For more information please visit www.lloydstsblondon2012.co.uk/Local_Heroes