VICTORIA Webster returned to cross country action with a good performance in Nottingham at the Inter Counties Counties Championships on Saturday. After taking third place in the London Marathon Silverstone Half Marathon only six days earlier, Victoria ran

VICTORIA Webster returned to cross country action with a good performance in Nottingham at the Inter Counties Counties Championships on Saturday.

After taking third place in the London Marathon Silverstone Half Marathon only six days earlier, Victoria ran the 8k cross-country course at Wollaton Park in 29.49 to take 23rd place and lead the Hertfordshire team to 11th place in the senior women's race. Coach George Harrison said: "Victoria ran really well. She had the half marathon in her legs but she was pleased with that performance."

Starlet Karis Mimms showed her credentials again with a sparkling run in the Under 13s Girls. The talented Beaumont School pupil finished in sixth place and was 109 places ahead of the second athlete from Herts. Karis finished the 3k course with a time of 13.33, only 14 seconds behind the all-conquering winner Jessica Judd from Essex. Coach Harrison praised Karis for another excellent showing. He said: "I am pleased with the run from Karis. She was in the 30s at halfway and did so well to pull through to sixth in a high-class field with 300 athletes and the best from 50 counties, including Scotland and Wales. The girl that tied with her was second in the nationals and Karis is closing up on her. Karis is a really lovely, unassuming girl and she has improved nicely this year.

"Jessica Judd has not been beaten. She won the South of England, the national and made the English Schools international. She won the regional round of the English schools, beating Karis by over a minute and now Karis is 14 seconds behind her."

Rebekah Gardiner, aged 17, led the Hertfordshire team to 11th place in the Under 20s Women's race. Rebekah finished first in the county team in 34th overall, with a time of 25.09 in the race. Coach Harrison hailed a fine achievement. He said: "It was the best Rebekah has ever run. She was top for Herts and one of the youngest in the age group.