LUTON athletes represented Bedfordshire schools at the Aviva National English Schools Cross-Country Championships in Somerset on Saturday.
Rebecca Murray again excelled as, running in her first year as a Senior girl, she was competing against a star-studded field which included Emilia Gorecka, the current European cross-country champion, and 800m World Championships medallist Jessica Judd.
The best possible outcome for Murray would be third and she finished a mere one second off a podium place, finishing the 4.25km course in 15.40mins.
Equally successful was Luton AC’s Jamal Lewis who was in the leading group in the Junior boys race until 800m to go, but faded slightly to finish fifth. It was a good enough performance to join Murray in the England team at the Home International at Perth, Scotland this weekend.
Another athlete who has made massive strides this season is Beth Hanson.
Running in the championships for the first time she finished 52nd in the Intermediate girls race.
Luton were well represented in the Junior girls race with Amalia Edwards, 134th, sister Adeya ,238th, Charlotte Kelly, 247th, and Jasmine Watson, 323rd.
Intermediate George Ward ran well to finish 130th, contributing to a second place for the Bedfordshire boys team in the small counties category.