MARCELLA Aris has qualified for next week's British Swimming Championships, held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. She is the only female in the county to qualify this year and it is her first appearance at the championships.

MARCELLA Aris has qualified for next week's British Swimming Championships, held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

She is the only female in the county to qualify this year and it is her first appearance at the championships.

Aris, 14, goes to Northgate High School in Dereham and swims for City of Norwich. She has had a magnificent year in the pool, winning silver and bronze at the national age group championships back in August. She has built on that success, increasing her already heavy training regime by adding an extra session each week.

Her personal best times have tumbled and she has qualified in two events, the 400m freestyle and the 800m freestyle, the same events as Joanne Jackson, current world champion and Rebecca Adlington Olympic champion. Aris is looking forward to competing at the same event as the star duo, adding: 'Just to be warming up at the same time will be a buzz.'

Aris' aim is to achieve a European junior qualifying time.