Knowles-Jones the pick of the Warrington pack at English Schools’ Cross Country Championships (From Warrington Guardian)

Knowles-Jones the pick of the Warrington pack at English Schools’ Cross Country Championships

12:30pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Sport

HARRIET Knowles-Jones’ silver medal-winning run at the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships has earned her a call-up for England.

Representing Greater Manchester in the intermediate girls’ race at Catton Hall in Walton on Trent, Derbyshire, Knowles-Jones was in the leading group until Annabel Mason broke clear, building a lead of around 10 seconds.

The Lymm-based runner closed the gap on the reigning national under 17s cross country and European junior mountain running champion, who is also a year older, but could not quite make up the difference, finishing just three seconds behind in 13mins 1sec.

Her international debut representing England will come in the SIAB Home Countries Schools’ International at Dinefwr Park and Castle in Llandeilo on Saturday.

There were eight Warrington Athletics Club members representing Cheshire at the event, with Lizzie Smith finish behind Knowles-Jones in 46th place in 14mins 25secs.

In the junior girls’ race three girls ran for Cheshire, with Vicky Ramsbottom getting the better of Melissa Boyer for the first time in the last few strides, finishing in 64th and 66th positions in 12mins 6secs and 12mins 7secs respectively.

Sarah McGrail was struggling with an ankle injury and finished 98th in 12mins 21secs.

The aggregate total points scored over the three girls’ races enabled Cheshire to win the Durham Trophy in the second tier of county teams.

In the boys’ events, Cameron Field ran well in the senior race to finish 29th in 22mins 37secs in his first year in the age group.

Liam Burthem also ran well was 27th in the intermediates’ race in 20mins 26secs, while Leighton Sharman finished 246th in 23mins 12secs.

In the junior boys’ race, debutant Jack Stubbings finished 274th in 17mins 39ses.