THE GIAAC’s FirstRand Junior Endurance Squad had a good summer on the track with the 30 members setting more than 90 personal bests.

However, last weekend saw members returning to UK competition in the Hampshire Cross-Country League, an ideal workout ahead of the county championships early in January.

Leading the way was young Katie Rowe.

With another year to go still in the under-13 age-group she followed up last season’s stunning victory in the county championships with another assured run to win by 11 seconds.

Running comfortably in the leading group for the first half, Rowe timed her run to perfection, breaking away over the closing stages. Also in the under-13 race was Elise Bisson, who finished 27th.

Sarah Mercier also had a fine run to finish fifth in the under-20 women’s race, which was also good enough to earn her 13th place in the senior women’s race run concurrently.

Also in that race, but not a member of the FirstRand Junior Squad, was Louise Perrio, who finished fourth.

George Mason (pictured) is competing at the bottom end of the under 15 age-group this season and also had an excellent run to finish 10th.