MELISSA Hawtin led the way for Oxfordshire with a sixth-place finish in the South of England Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill, London.

The Oxford City athlete made her mark in the under 20 ladies’ race over 6km on a very muddy course.

Hawtin clocked 23mins 4secs in a race won by GB international Emelia Gorecka (Aldershot, Farnham & District), who recorded 21.11.

Her sister and clubmate, Lauren Hawtin was 21st in 25.20, while City’s Jade Walker came 32nd in 26.43.

Beth Hawtin completed a strong day for the family with a 26th-placed finish in the under 17 girls’ race over 5km.

She clocked 21.10, while White Horse Harrier Josie Harrison was 34th in 21.27.

Fiona Bunn (Abingdon Amb-lers) came 20th in the under 15 girls’ race, completing the 4km course in 14.50.

Oxford City’s Nat Jones finished 28th in the under 15 boys’ 4.5km race, recording 15.59.

There was a top-ten finish for Steve Naylor (Bedford & County) in the men’s race.

The Combe athlete came ninth over a 15km course, clocking 51.18.

With Bedford runners also placing second, third, 12th, 13th and 18th, Naylor’s team took their seventh title in nine years by more than 100 points.

“Some may argue that the field was depleted due to next week’s nationals, but that didn’t take anything away from our achievement,” said Naylor.

“My top-ten place was my best position in the three years I’ve been doing the southerns after 16th and 12th.”

OTHER SUBMITTED RESULTS

MEN

Senior: 68 M Robinson (Hed) 56.29, 142 F Campbell (Hed) 1.00.25, 169 R Skilbeck (Hed) 1.01.46, 376 L Hurman (Hed) 1.12.10.

Under 20: 46 J Cornish (Whh) 29.46, 65 R Meredith (Oxf) 31.42.

Under 17: 51 M Marshall (Oxf) 21.45.

Under 15: 57 B Claridge (Whh) 16.34.

Under 13: 147 N Wiltshire (Abn) 12.45, 148 M Crowther (Oxf) 12.45.

LADIES

Senior: 72 N Smith (Hed) 36.06, 75 A Hopkins (Hed) 36.12.

Under 17: 74 E Clark (Oxf) 24.01.

Under 15: 69 E Evans (Oxf) 16.01, 87 J Wells (Abn) 16.21, 93 I Rodriguez (Oxf) 16.26, 96 V Tilling (Abn) 16.28, 103 C Huxley (Oxf) 16.48.

Under 13: 46 C Ridewood (Oxf) 12.29, 131 J O’Connor (Oxf) 13.45, 199 B Kippin (Abn) 15.58.

KEY

Abn=Abingdon Amblers, Hed=Headington Road Runners, Oxf=Oxford City, Whh=White Horse Harriers.