Campbell first made state selection for New South Wales when she was picked as the 1988 single scull representative contesting the Nell Slatter trophy at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships - she placed second.
[3] In 1991 at the annual Interstate Regatta in the New South Wales women's heavyweight four she contested and won the ULVA Trophy.
[5][6] Campbell first competed for national titles at the Australian Rowing Championships in 1988 when she raced in Leichhardt colours in all three open women's sculling classes.
[7] The 1989 Australian Championships were interrupted by cyclonic conditions but not before the open women's single scull final was raced in which Campbell placed second.
[8] By 1990 she was racing in crews with Jenny Luff with whom she would share national success and pair up for World Championships and Olympics.
[11] In 1992 Campbell placed second in the single scull and racing in AIS colours with Luff, won the double and the quad.