Former Radley athlete Hatti Dean booked her place in the Great Britain team for next month's European Cross Country Championships in Spain, after finishing a creditable fourth in Saturday's trials at Liverpool's Sefton Park.

The race was won by Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow's Hayley Yelling, who stormed to one of her most emphatic cross country victories as she led from start to finish to clock 27mins 42secs.

Although Dean was never in contention for victory, she produced a strong run to cross the line in the 8km race in 28.24, holding off Durham's Felicity Milton to secure her place in the British team.

Dean has never qualified for the European Champ- ionships before, although she did take her place in the British team for the world championships in Kenya last year.

The conditions in Torro, Spain, are likely to be far more comfortable, and Dean is hopeful of a strong performance.

She said: "I felt a top-five finish would be enough to get me in the team, although only the first three were guaran- teed.

"It's the first time I've reached the Europeans, I've missed out a few times, so I'm delighted to be going.

"Hopefully I can get into the top 15. Obviously all the British girls are running well at the moment.

"But in the worlds, I was third or fourth European home and the conditions there were very hot.

"It's going to be a lot easier in Spain, and hopefully it will be a fast race.