Published at 19:52, Thursday, 18 September 2008

DEARHAM teenager Laura Park is now a double world champion.

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The 16-year-old left her opponents for dead in the U20 race at the World Mountain Running Championships in Switzerland.

And then found she won a second gold for England in the team classification.

Park has won umpteen national and British track, cross-country and fell titles but has now taken her running to a new height.

Despite three years younger than some of her fellow competitors she broke the tape at the mountain running championships 100 metres ahead of her nearest challenge.

Park completed the 4.27km course, which involved 332m of ascent, in 22 minutes 34 seconds, 33 seconds ahead of Turkey’s Esra Gullu.

England’s Heather Timmins and Hannah Bateson finished seventh and 11th to help Park take the team gold as well.

Park, a former pupil of Netherhall School who now works at its sports complex, is a member of the Maryport-based Ellenborough Athletics Club.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk