TWO Warrington athletes were disqualified after a mishap caused chaos in a cross country event at the weekend.

Joe Buckley and Jordan Jones, members of Warrington Athletics Club's under 17s men's team, were among the group of nine leading runners that went off the marked course during the second round of the Manchester Area League at a sodden Boggart Hole Clough in Blackley, Manchester.

Following investigations it appears the group were sent the wrong way by a spectator, substantially reducing the distance travelled by the runners.

"Having spoken with athletes, some of the team managers and, in particular course marshals, I am satisfied that there was no misleading advice given by either designated marshals or officials," said the race referee in a statement 48 hours after the event.

Warrington's Jack Wadsworth finished third and Charlie Turnbull 23rd.

In the senior/under 20s men’s race Daniel Fox was 21st, placing him second in the under 20s age group.

Next to finish in 36th place was Spanish recruit Paulo Artime, making his debut for the club.

He has run cross country in his homeland but the courses there tend to be quite flat and mostly dry.

Although he was in the first 10 places after the first small lap he found the swampy conditions extremely tough and dropped back through the field, describing the course as crazy in places.

Jack Green was 66th, Chris Fance 99th and Dave Norma 169th, placing him as fourth over 55.

Orla Gregory had an excellent run in the under 13s girls' race to finish in third place.

And with Eva Ferris 18th and Maisie Bell 23rd the team finished fourth.

The B team of Molly Wormald 34th, Lucie Davies 35th and Emily Entwistle 45th came 11th place.

The squad was completed by Isobel Houghton 59th and Jasmine Jones 73rd.

Erik Marshall was ninth boy in the same age group.

Jess Connolly was the only runner from the club in the under 15s girls' race, finishing 25th, while in the boys' race Isaaq Ataullah and Joel Birchall had a race-long duel to finish sixth and seventh respectively.

Eva Karalius moved through the field after a steady start to finish seventh in the under 11s girls' race, followed home by Alice Nicholson 22nd and Corin Smith 23rd as seventh-placed team.

Next to finish was Esme Heavey 34th, Rhiannon Wilkes 36th and Harriet Bell 40th for 10th place in the team race.

Evie Owen 43rd and Amelia Smith 51st completed the squad.

In the boys' race Rory Gregory and Jacob Pryor were 26th and 27th.

Olivia Baker was 15th in the under 17s women’s race.

The senior/under 20s women’s featured Rachel McQuillan as first to finish for the club in 132nd place overall and 10th in the under 20s age group.

Emma Pryor finished 174th, 31st in the 35-39 age group.