Harriet the star at national cross country event

On a course that was drying but with a couple of swampy stretches, the star of the day for was Harriet Knowles-Jones in the under 17s girls’ class.

From the gun she was in the leading group and, along with Birtley’s Lydia Turner and Invicta’s Bobby Clay, she pulled clear to settle the medal places.

The three continued to battle until three-quarter distance when Knowles-Jones was unable to hold on any longer.

She battled on though, collecting the bronze medal in 17mins 39secs with the race won by Turner following a sprint finish in 17mins 25secs.

Also running for Warrington was Holly Tidd, who finished in 132nd place in 22mins 30secs.

In the under 15s girls’ race, Lauren Ferris’ form continued to lead the team home in 47th place in 16mins 56secs.

She was followed by Melissa Boyer, 91st in 17mins 34secs, Sarah McGrail, 159th, and Olivia Bush, 160th, both in 18mins 17secs.

Amy Gibbons and Georgia Aston-Massey finished in 199th and 215th recording 18mins 43secs and 18mins 53secs, respectively.

In the junior girls’ race Katie Ashcroft finished 88th, clocking 27mins exactly.

In the under 13s boys’ event, 12-year-old Sam Evans ran well to finish 21st in 11mins 39secs, while Jordan Jones fought all the way to 189th in 13mins.

Owen Lee placed 107th in 15mins 48secs in the under 15s boys’ race, with Luke Gamble’s best run of the season producing 141st place in 16mins 6secs and Jack Stubbings 167th in 16mins 23secs.

In the under 17s boys’ race, Dan Evans and Liam Burthem made 24th, in 20mins 39secs, and 33rd, in 20mins 57secs, respectively.

Cameron Field worked his way through the field to finish 45th in 33mins 52secs in the junior boys.

Steve Burthem, in the veteran over 50s, was the only Warrington runner in the senior men’s race, finishing in 903rd place in 49mins 43secs over a 12km course.

Former Warrington Athletics Club member John Gilbert, now running for Kent Athletics Club, finished in sixth place.