School sports: McKenzie rounds off year on a high

SWIMMING: Larbert High School’s Charlotte McKenzie was in outstanding form at the weekend’s Scottish Gas National Open Short Course Championships, winning all three backstroke titles and setting Scottish records over 50m and 100m.

The Commonwealth Pool event was the perfect end to 2012 for the 16-year-old, but there will be little time for celebration as she is off to Arizona on 4 January for three weeks’ warm weather training.

Fortunately her school is very supportive and willing to give the fifth-year pupil the time away. But she has to play her part – and she will be packing a pile of books.

“I’m missing one week of prelims and so it means I will have to sit five in one week – four Highers and Intermediate two in Biology,” she said.

Next year promises to be huge for Charlotte. Her goal is to make the GB team for the World Junior Championships in Casablanca in August.

The following year should be even bigger with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Another two school swimmers won titles at the Championships. Emily Jones (Inverurie Academy) claimed the 100m and 200m butterfly and Mark Szaranek (Auchmuty High School) took the 100m butterfly and 100m individual medley.

Aberdeen Grammar’s 15-year-old Suleman Butt also stood out with three British Junior records – in the 50m and 100m freestyle and the 100m individual medley.

The Brodies Scottish Schools’ Championships take place at the Dollan Baths at East Kilbride at the end of next month.