Young athletes from St Albans Athletics Club braved the cold and muddy terrain to compete in the Chiltern Cross Country League at Luton.

Rachel Parlour finished third in the U17/20 with some confident running and ever-increasing strength, making the coming track season an exciting prospect. Tabitha Weddell ,Sophie Olney and Lauren Eckley were are next athletes home.

Rowan Daly represented the under 17 men over the 6km course which had to be deviated due to flooding.

Oliver Davis, fresh from his duty for Verulam School in the English Schools Cup, finished an impressive sixth in the U15 Boys, just 31 seconds behind the winner.

Jed Lumb’s storming last 400m was enough for him to finish 10th. Callum Walsh made up the scoring team.

Keira Stern and Freya Weddell continued their good form in the girls’ event, finishing 9th and 10th respectively with Emily Rayden having one of her best performances to be our 3rd scorer.

Niamh Gallagher’s 12th was the best-placed finish in the U13 Girls race, Jack Dickinson being the first boy home in 14th.

The girls’ team also included Beatrix Towers, Chrissy Durbin and Emma Wilson while Morgan Hume, Robert Quigley and Jacob Rigby completed the boys’ line-up.

There was a welcome increase in numbers at the U11 age group.

Antonia Jubb finished with another top-10 placing, coming home in 8th.

Noah Brown was the first Saint first home in the boys race, followed by James Alexander, Ben Walker, William Duncan and Enzo Endean.

A spokeswoman for the club said: “It was great to see our young athletes giving themselves their own targets which aren’t necessary performance related and consequently helping the enjoyment keeping them in what is arguably the hardest of the athletics disciplines.”