Parr's flying high after medal haul | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Usually athlete Chelsea Parr is a girl on the move. Blink and you'll miss her.

But after claiming a stunning 10 medal haul at the recent Colgate Games in Wellington and Nelson, the Rotorua 12-year-old has been weighted down - in gold, silver and bronze.

Representing Lake City Athletic Club, Parr won individual gold in the 100m, 200m (setting a personal best of 26.97sec) and long jump (setting a personal best of 4.71m) before combining with clubmates Anna Leathers, Claudia Hyde and Kimberley Murrell to win gold in the 4x100m 13-years relay and bronze in the medley relay.

She also picked up a bronze medal in her favourite event, the high jump before doing it all again in Nelson two weeks later - winning gold in the 100m, 200m, long jump and a silver medal in the high jump.

It was a feat she described as "awesome" and hopeful it would provide the inspiration she needs to be selected for the Waikato/ Bay of Plenty Interprovincial team to compete in Christchurch at Easter.

Parr has been involved in athletics for the last four years and is part of an exciting new crop of local athletes running and jumping their way to national glory.

Coached by Papamoa based Mike Corboy, Parr is determined to continue recording personal bests in each of her events, especially the high jump where she has already unofficially equalled the Waikato record, set in 1988, of 1.53m for a 12-year-old girl.

Parr said in order for the jump to be made official she needs to repeat her performance at the upcoming Waikato/ BOP championships in Hamilton - not bad for some one who is only 1.57cm tall.

"I have to jump 1.53m [to equal the record] and I am really determined to do it," she said.

In addition, Parr also enjoys guiding the fortunes of her younger clubmates by helping out at junior nights at Westbrook field.

"It's fun. I encourage them to do their best and help out with the high jump," she said.

"There are some really good kids coming through."

The bubbly athlete, who will begin her first year at Western Heights High School next week, will now look ahead to next Saturday's Pentathlon at Westbrook Fields; a number of secondary school events in March and ribbon days in order to qualify for the Interprovincial team.

She said many of her Lake City clubmates are likely to do well following the club's overall success at the Colgate Games.

Medal winners included:

Claudia Hyde (gold 400m, silver 800m); Kimberley Murrell (bronze 100m, 200m); Sarah Podmore (bronze 80m hurdles); Nicolaas Vickers (bronze highjump 1.53m);

and at the South Island Colgate Games:

Joel Leathers (silver high jump 1.35m); Anna Leathers (silver long jump, high jump); Rebecca Sparrow gold pennant shotput, bronze pennant 100m).