Northgate High School swimmer Marcella Aris, 13 (pictured), who swims for the UEA City of Norwich team, has started the new season as she means to go on.

Northgate High School swimmer Marcella Aris, 13 (pictured), who swims for the UEA City of Norwich team, has started the new season as she means to go on.

At this time of the season she is dedicated to long, heavy stamina sets in training - building up her endurance, swimming on dark winter mornings and evenings and clocking approximately 45km a week.

Over the last couple of weekends Marcella has taken leave from the training schedule to take part in a couple of galas, just to see where she stands.

Two weeks ago she entered a sprints meet in Hatfield and posted a magnificent 29.51sec for 50m freestyle. One of her goals for the season was to get under 30 seconds, and to achieve this first time out was unbelievable. She also came away with a silver medal for 50m backstroke.

Last weekend she was on the road again, swimming in Sheffield at a Level One graded event. Marcella had a marvellous competition, competing in seven races. She came away with two silver medals and a bronze.

More importantly, she achieved three national qualifying times for next summer's National Age Championships and only missed a fourth by a tenth of a second. She achieved personal best times in every event.

Marcella said: “I was really exited at getting my national qualifying times. By rights I shouldn't be achieving these kind of times until Easter, so I'm months ahead of schedule - we haven't even started sprint work yet in training.”

It's back to training again for Marcella, who will continue right through the Christmas period, getting only Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year Day off.