ALL SCHOOL GOLD TO THE TALLY FOR SALLY

SALLY Fitzgibbons continued her outstanding year of athletic performances last weekend at the Australian All Schools athletics titles at Homebush.

After falling just 0.2 seconds off a world youth qualifying time on Saturday in her U17s 800m (2m.08.75s) gold medal winning final, Sally produced an outstanding performance in winning her second gold in the 1500m on Sunday.

Running a time of 4m 25.87s now makes her eligible to compete at the World Youth Titles in Czechoslovakia next June.

The teenage sporting prodigy, who has represented Australia in Surfing, and Touch football, started as favourite in the 800m and won by five seconds.

After a tight first three laps in the 1500m, leading from start to finish, she broke away from the pack, securing her second gold medal in the process.

Coached by Ian Hatfield of Albion Park, her results come in a stand out year for the 15-year-old, who earlier in September was part of the 79 strong Athletics Australia Youth Development camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Reflecting on the camp, Sally viewed it as a great experience as she and the other athletes had the opportunity to see professional athletes living their day to day lives hopefully a sneak preview of what might be ahead for me.

Surfing

Fresh from winning her second national Athletics title in as many days, Sally and mother Mary hopped onto a plane for Sally to compete at the Rip Curl GromSearch surfing event on the Gold Coast.

Sally remains committed to her goal one day becoming an elite athlete.