The 14-year-old won the under-14 Victorian Little Athletics high jump title in March with a jump of 1.6 metres.

Last week, she won the gold medal for the intermediate level at the national junior aerobics championships ahead of 30 other competitors at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

The year 8 student at St Margaret's School said training for two disciplines wasn't a problem and, in fact, they complemented each other.

"There are certain routines we do for aerobics, which is really a blend of gymnastics and dance.

"This mixes well with my athletic training because my strongest point is push-ups.

"The world high jump record is around two metres and I'd love to compete in the world championships, competing against the best high jumpers."

Her other goal is the Commonwealth Games.

"But I'll have to do a lot of training to reach those heights. For now I'll concentrate on competing in the nationals."

After competing last December for Victoria at the Pacific School Games in Canberra in triple jump and hurdles, she qualified to compete for the under-18 Australian championships in high jump next March in Sydney. She is a member of the Athletics Victoria development squad.

Cooper had success in aerobic events at state and national levels and in school events.

Her school won the recent state Aeroskools Championships and was second at the nationals.

Verity trains at Waverley Little Athletics Centre but competes for Knox.

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