Rosemeadow sprinter Damita Betham has scorched an 25-year record

AT ONLY 12 years of age, Rosemeadow sprint star Damita Betham has scorched an 25-year NSW record and claimed gold.

Rosemeadow’s Damita Betham has eclipsed a 25-year-old record at the NSW Athletics All Schools Championships last week.

AT ONLY 12 years of age, Rosemeadow sprint star Damita Betham has scorched an 25-year NSW record and claimed gold.

The Campbelltown Collegians Athletics Club member attended the NSW All Schools Championships at Homebush, winning gold in the under 12 girls 100, 200 and 400 metre events.

Betham beat a longstanding record in the 200m sprint, formerly held by a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Confidence was not an issue for the dedicated sprinter, who said she had lofty goals leading into the athletics meet.

“I saw the records and I knew I could do it,” she said.

“My coach (Peter Murphy) said you have to want it really bad, and I wanted it so bad I got it.”

Betham celebrated a medal haul of three golds and one silver medal.

Accelerating past all her competitors wasn’t enough for the speed queen, who eclipsed former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Rosemary Haywood’s longstanding record.

Haywood’s 200m record of 25.8 seconds, set in 1993, was broken by Betham in the preliminary heat, before she crushed it by half a second (25.3 seconds) in the final.

“It felt really good,” Betham said. “Hopefully it will stands as long as the previous record did.”

Betham earnt a silver medal in the long jump.

Buoyed by the golden haul, the Ambarvale High School student said she hopes one day she will represent the green and gold.

“An Olympic Games would be the priority” she said. “It would be amazing.”

The 12-year-old, who also won a silver medal in the long jump, is now preparing for the Australian All Schools Championships at Cairns in December.