Oxfordshire's Melissa Hawtin steps up in distance as she goes for glory at the English Schools' Track & Field Championships at Gateshead on July 11 and 12.

The 15-year-old, from Gosford Hill, Kidlington, finished sixth in the junior girls' 1500m at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium last year.

She won the county title over the same trip two weeks ago in her first year in the intermediate age group, but will tackle the 3000m at the nationals.

Hawtin forms part of a 25-strong Oxfordshire team, which will compete at Gateshead.

In the same age group, Kirsty Warland (Wheatley Park) and Danielle Anderson (Matthew Arnold, Cumnor) will be hoping to show the form which saw them win medals at the same venue in 2006.

Warland struck gold in the 75m hurdles and Anderson took silver in the javelin.

However, both failed to make an impact in Birmingham 12 months ago.

Bea Swords (Headington) misses the championships through injury, but her younger sister, Beth, runs in the junior girls' 1500m.

Oxon will be looking for prominent displays from their senior sprinters.

In the boys' events, Henley College's Max Galliers goes in the 100m, while Luke Chown (Fitzharrys, Abingdon) flies the flag in the 200m.

For the girls, Rebecca Sanders-Clarke (St Helen & St Katharine's, Abingdon) will do battle in the 100m, with Claire Butler (Henry Box, Witney) competing in the 200m.

OXFORDSHIRE TEAM.

Boys.

Senior - 100m: M Galliers (Henley College). 200m: L Chown (Fitzharrys, Abingdon).

Intermediate - 100m: M Summers (Abingdon). 800m: P Essink (King Alfred's, Wantage), S Ferguson (Chipping Norton). Triple jump: J Wright (Marlborough, Woodstock).

Junior - 400m: P Barnshaw (Abingdon). Triple jump: E Goggs (Lord Williams's, Thame). Discus: J Ventress (Wallingford).

Reserves - F Hunt (Wallingford), G Miller (Burford), A Jones (Wood Green, Witney), P Hipwell (Henry Box, Witney).

Girls.

Senior - 100m: R Sanders-Clarke (St Helen & St Katharine's, Abingdon). 200m: C Butler (Henry Box, Witney). 800m: S Tyers (Bloxham). Hammer: E Sutton (Wheatley Park).

Intermediate - 200m: R Hussey (Lord Williams's, Thame). 800m: E Grant (St Helen & St Katharine's, Abingdon). 3000m: M Hawtin (Gosford Hill, Kidlington). 80mH: K Warland (Wheatley Park). Javelin: D Anderson (Matthew Arnold, Cumnor). Hammer: A Baird (St Helen & St Katharine's).

Junior - 100m: L Spurway (King Alfred's, Wantage). 200m: J Gregory (Didcot Girls). 1500m: Beth Swords (Headington). Long jump: E Moore (Gosford Hill), L Cartwright (Burford). Discus: E O'Hara (Larkmead, Abingdon).

Reserves - C McMillan (North Oxon Academy, Banbury), L Brown (Marlborough, Woodstock).