Bushey middle-distance runner Marella Whitfield continued her successful season by winning the Hertfordshire Cross-Country Championships at the weekend.

In tough conditions due to heavy rain the day before, 15-year-old Whitfield finished more than 100 metres and 20 seconds ahead of her nearest rival on the hilly 4.5km course in Cassiobury Park, crossing the line in a time of 18.40.

Whitfield is a member of Harrow Athletic Club, and trains three times a week with her coach Peter Barry. This is her fourth cross-country title, having won her first when she was just 11.

Following this victory, Whitfield, who is in Year 10 at Loreto College, has been selected for the UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in Birmingham in March.

Watford Harriers enjoyed a successful afternoon at the Herts County Cross Country Championships last Sunday with a number of winners at the event.

In wet and muddy conditions, Harriers’ runners battled the elements to record excellent results. Hannah Kitchen timed her run perfectly to become senior women’s county champion, moving steadily from third place at halfway to cross the line in first position, 40m ahead of her nearest rival.

She led the team Angela Halford (eighth), Danielle Sanderson (12th) and Caroline Whittaker (13th) to Harriers’ first ever ladies county title.

Grace Ingles stormed to victory in the under-11 girl’s race and further youth success was had by Under-17 Chloe Dearman and Under-15 Tom Rayner, both finishing fifth in their respective age categories.

Both have now earned selection for the inter-counties event in March.