Marist Dragons Junior Girls Dragon Boat team have cleaned up at the Nationals

Effort and desire are the only words that can describe the Marist Dragons Junior Girls Dragon Boat team.

Marist Dragons Junior Girls won gold in the 200m and silver in the 500m and 2km at the 2016 National Dragon Boating Championships in Adelaide.

Effort and desire are the only words that can describe the Marist Dragons Junior Girls Dragon Boat team.

With only 22 members making up their team for the Australian Dragon Boat Federation Nationals competition in Adelaide earlier this year, they were one of the smallest squads at the competition.

But one could easily argue they had the most heart.

Nationals medal haul for the Marist Dragons Junior Girls

While some of the squads at the competition were able to rotate teams of almost 100, the Marist Dragons managed to medal in three different events despite their small size.

The Junior Girls backed up a gold medal in the 200m with hard-fought silver medal efforts in both the 500m and 2km events.

Marist Dragons Junior Girlscompeting at the 2016 National Dragon Boating Championships in Adelaide

“Our Junior Girls crew were very successful even though some girls had to back up in multiple events,” said Marist Dragon Boat Club representative Nicole Phillips.

“We are all very proud of their achievement.”

OLIVIA A 'NATURAL'

STAR BACK FOR PARALYMPICS

The Marist Dragons Junior Girls are in the running to win the Northern District Times’ Team Spirit Award, sponsored by Fox Sports Pulse.

They are this week’s nominee for the NewsLocal Junior Sports Star awards.

Rebel is the long-term major sponsor of the awards which have four categories: Young Sporting Spirit sponsored by Simonds Homes, Team Spirit, Service to Sport and Junior Sports Star.

NewsLocal Junior Sports Star 2016 logo JSS/Rebel Lockup Major Sponsor Rebel