STRICT training has led Mount Annan gymnast Katelyn Mills, 13, to a NSW title.

A former Narellan Gymnastics Studio student, she is the Women's Artistic Gymnastics NSW Champion in the Level 6 junior category.

Training as a gymnast since she was eight, Katelyn placed first in the floor exercise and vault disciplines, second on uneven bars and fifth on balance beam, to win the title at the Northern Beaches Indoor Sporting Complex, Warriewood.

A NSW Academy of Gymnastics student at Miranda, under the guidance of head coach Bill Parsons, Katelyn puts in 20 hours of practice each week.

Her mother Sorel Osborne said Katelyn wanted to become Australian champion for Level 7 through to Level 10 over the coming years.

``After all her hard work over the years, she has been extremely successful this year,'' Ms Osborne said. ``Her coaches believe she has the ability and the commitment to reach her goals of becoming a national champion in the years ahead.

``Her determination and drive is exceptional and the support she has from both her coaches, her teammates, as well as her family, will help her to reach her goals.''

Katelyn has increased her skill on all apparatus at Warriewood centre. ``She loves the camaraderie, but also the hard work and the adrenaline rush when you achieve a new skill or place in a competition,'' Ms Osborne said.

Next on the agenda for the young gymnast will be to compete in the Level 7 State trials early next year, in a bid to be selected for the NSW team which will compete in the 2010 Australian Championships.