DANIEL Evans and Harriet Knowles-Jones capped off a phenomenal season by claiming national titles for Warrington Athletics Club in Birmingham at the weekend.

For Knowles-Jones there was further joy, as she and clubmate Katie Brough figured in the top two of the McCain Cross Challenge Series that was completed at Cofton Park as part of the UK Inter-County Cross Country Championships.

But it was Evans and Harriet Knowles-Jones who stood out in the 18-strong team in at an event televised live, fitting coverage for a pair who have raced to victory in almost every run they have entered this season.

In the under 15s boys’ race, Evans cruised into the lead and gradually opened a large gap which he maintained to the finish, inspiring comments from the commentators as to how relaxed he looked as he won in 16mins 2secs.

Knowles-Jones overcame the final furlongs of an illness as she battled her way to the UK title.

She finished 10 seconds ahead of Stockport Harriers’ Katy Whiteoak, leading the Cheshire team to the silver medals and also claiming the overall title in the McCain Cross Challenge in the process.

In the senior women’s race, which included the trial for the World Cross Country Championships, Brough made an early bid to follow the leader by running in second place for much of the first lap.

As the pace picked up Brough appeared to be dropping back but fought hard all the way to finish in 10th place in 28mins 3secs.

That performance guaranteed Brough second in the McCain Cross Challenge Series, behind race winner and national champion Louise Damen.