A GALLANT run by Oxfordshire starlet Melissa Hawtin gave her a well-deserved bronze medal in the under 17 women’s race at the McCain UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham.

The Oxford City runner coped well with a testing course to lead her team to 21st place from the 35 teams from all over Great Britain.

Hawtin clocked 18mins 42secs on the five kilometre course.

The best team results for Oxon went to the under 13 and under 15 girls’ teams, who both finished 15th from the 40 teams taking part.

The under 13s were led home by Beth Hawtin (Oxford City), who finished ninth on the three kilometre course in 13.54, while Imogen Kempton was the leading runner in the under 15 race, finishing 45th in 16.10.

Tom Beigel (Banbury Harriers) was first Oxon under 13 boy home in 29th, while Oxford City’s Harry Roberts led home the under 15 boys in 69th.

Jacob Simmons had a strong run for 77th in the under 17 men’s race.

Tim Traynor (White Horse Harriers) was the class act in the under 20 men’s race over eight kilometres.

Traynor achieved a creditable 35th, clocking 27.51.

In the corresponding women’s race, Milly Kempton (75th) just edged out Megan Roberts (80th).

Oxfordshire’s senior men had a disappointing day, managing only 21st from 32 teams.

Steve Kimber was the first Oxfordshire runner home, clocking 40.54 to finish 80th.

Owain Bristow was 90th in 41.13 with Darrell Bellinger 116th in 41.44.

Helen Barnes was 118th on the eight kilometre senior women’s course in 32.49.

Lauren Kyte and Diane Moore were second and third Oxfordshire finishers in 128th and 142nd respectively.

Hatti Dean, who was due to run for Yorkshire, pulled out of the event due to illness.

RESULTS

Senior men: 80 S Kimber 40.54, 90 O Bristow 41.13, 116 D Bellinger 41.44, 185 A Chetwynd 43.12, 210 P Jegou 44.03, 214 T Bradford 44.05, 231 S Frear 44.39. Team: 21st from 32.

Senior women: 118 H Barnes 32.49, 128 L Kyte 33.06, 142 D Moore 33.25, 147 R Kelling 33.31, 162 L Barklie 33.50, 206 M Bartlett 35.17. Team: 23rd from 33.

Under 20 men: 35 T Traynor 27.51, 151 R Morgan 32.52, 153 T Shepperd-Smith 33.08, 158 D Hamilton 33.24, 167 A Hamilton 34.03. Team: 25th from 26.

Under 20 women: 75 M Kempton 26.48, 80 M Roberts 26.56, 141 C Cross 29.17, 150 E Patrick 30.38, 157 V Wells 32.04. Team: 22nd from 23.

Under 17 men: 77 J Simmons 22.12, 167 G Miller 23.20, 188 P Essink 23.33, 200 S Ferguson 23.42, 234 E Nesbitt 24.20, 241 R Cadle 24.36, 263 J Belcher 25.21. Team: 36 from 39.

Under 17 women: 3 M Hawtin 18.42, 108 G Bridge 21.32, 147 J Sutherland 22.10, 169 C Bradley 22.37, 171 S Stanley 22.38, 187 E Berg 22.52, 216 J Brewer 23.41, 233 M Thresher 24.41. Team: 21st from 35.

Under 15 boys: 69 H Robertson 16.23, 176 S Jones 17.08, 177 A Holmes 17.08, 247 A Mills 17.41, 268 R Meredith 17.57, 274 J Humphries 18.03, 290 O Stepney 18.59, 302 W Handscombe 21.43. Team: 36th from 42.

Under 15 girls: 45 I Kempton 16.10, 65 C Macmillan 16.22, 74 L Hawtin 16.29, 116 J Walker 17.00, 155 E Clarke-Jacques 17.15, 195 R Byren 17.33, 210 B Warne 17.46, 229 B Murphy-Hand 18.00. Team: 15th from 42.

Under 13 boys: 29 T Beigel 13.12, 64 C von Eitzen 13.25, 98 J Tack 13.37, 151 N Jones 13.56, 161 M Marshall 14.00, 257 Z Ollife 14.46. Team: 19 from 40.

Under 13 girls: 9 B Hawtin 13.54, 92 T Mobley 14.53, 99 S Lloyd 14.55, 110 I van Zyl 15.01, 135 E Clarke 15.09, 186 M Humphreys 15.29, 279 M Walker 16.39, 294 S Elkirate 17.21. Team: 15th from 40.