High-jump heroine keeps her eyes firmly on London 2012

THE countdown to the London 2012 Olympics will duck under the three-year mark this week - and Harrow high-jump star Marilyn-Leona Nwawulor's dream appearance remains firmly on track.

The 16-year-old was hand-picked as a future Olympian earlier this year when she was selected to join the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative, scooping a £1,000 cash injection in the process to aid her London bid.

Nwawulor underlined her potential this year by claiming high-jump silver at the English Schools Track and Field Championships in Sheffield on July 10.

And with Monday marking exactly three years until the Olympic torch is lit at a glittering opening ceremony in the capital, Sacred Heart High School pupil Nwawulor is more determined than ever to live her London 2012 dream in three years' time.

"Everything is going really well for me this season and I feel like I am progressing well," said the Harrow AC athlete.

"I had a bit of a back injury a couple of years ago but I don't have that any more and my jumping and my running is improving.

"London used to seem a long way off when we found out that it was coming but it seems to be getting closer all the time now and I just hope I can get there.

"I will be 19 going on 20 when it starts and that is quite young but I am hopeful I can do it."Nwawulor's Sheffield heroics earned a spot in the England team for the SIAB Track and Field International in Antrim, Northern Ireland but the 16-year-old could only manage sixth place.

But with the AAA's Under-17 Championships at Bedford on August 8-9 and the UK School Games in September, Nwawulor insists there will be no time to rest on her laurels.

"I was pleased with how I jumped in Sheffield but I would have liked to have gone higher," added Nwawulor.

"But I am just going to concentrate on the AAAs in Bedford now, train hard and try and jump well there and keep improving." [25cf] Lloyds TSB is providing £1,000 to over 270 emerging young sportspeople identified each year across Britain, in the run up to London 2012 and beyond.

Visit www.Lloydstsb.com/Localheroes .