NEXT week the junior swimming team from Chelmsford County High School for Girls will compete in two relays at the 57th English School's Athletic Association's National Secondary Schools Team Relays.
The competition will be held at the London Aquatic Centre, at Queen Elizabeth Park, on November 22.
The team, made up of Scarlett Morine from Year 7 and Year 8s Megan Samuels, Lauren Scott, Milly Ward and Rebecca Watt, have qualified for the 4x50m freestyle relay and the 4x50m medley relay.
At the regional final they set the third fastest time in England in the freestyle relay, finishing in 2min 01.47sec and sixth fastest in the medley relay, 2.17.57.
Georgie-Lou Sales, the school's swimming coach, said: "I am so proud of the girls, to qualify third fastest in the country for freestyle is more than we could have dreamt of.
"The girls have bonded really well and have become an excellent team who are very supportive of each other.
"We are all excited about reaching the national finals and cannot wait to compete and hopefully win."
The head of PE at the school Sarah Bellamy added: "We are extremely proud of the girls for their achievement, especially as only 16 school teams qualified for each final from the 220 schools who entered the competition.
"Miss Sales has been working with the team this season to bring them together as a united squad and we are so pleased all their hard work has paid off.
"Hopefully, at the National Finals, they will go out and show everyone how talented they are. We wish them all the luck and will be cheering them on all the way."
