Talented athlete Lara Black is hoping to follow in her famous father's footsteps.

Dad is former Southend Athletic Club member Steve Black, who competed for Great Britain as a hurdler in the early 1970s.

Lara has just returned to her family home in Sydney, Australia, after a spell visiting her grandmother in Hadleigh.

Athletics is very much in her blood as her grandfather Clifford Black, who died nearly three years ago, was a grade one athletics' timekeeper.

While in Britain, 13-year-old Lara took part in an open meeting at Basildon Athletics Club's Gloucester Park track and won the under-15 girls' 200 metres. She followed this up with a third place at Crystal Palace.

Lara has already made her athletics mark down under. She came fifth in last year's Australian Schools' Championships 200 metres and her ambition is to represent her country in athletics.

The big question could be which country? While Australian born, Lara could qualify for British citizenship on her father's side.

Well ahead - Lara Black shows her rivals a clean pair of spikes at Gloucester Park

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