ATHLETES from mid Cheshire schools helped their county team to a runner-up prize at a national track and field championship.

Cheshire finished a creditable second to West Midlands in the annual Inter Counties Schools’ Championships for the Mason Trophy on Saturday.

Amy Howarth, from Weaverham High School, was among their star turns.

The 14-year-old – crowned county champion earlier this month – finished first in the junior girls’ discus at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium with a throw of 26.39m.

Hartford High School’s Zack Bamber crossed the line in second place in the inter boys’ 3,000m, an achievement matched by James Webster (Grange School) in the 400m hurdles for the same age class.

His time, 55.4s, is a new personal best.

Another Weaverham pupil, Jacob Williamson, ran a lifetime best to finish fifth in the junior boys’ 80m hurdles while classmate Katie Frith ran faster than she ever had before too in the junior girls’ 75m hurdles.

County High School Leftwich’s Adrian Tomlinson shared fourth spot in the inter boys’ high jump after leaping 1.85m, for him too a personal best.

Elsewhere Cheshire champions Lauren Roberts, from Weaverham, was fourth in the inter girls’ discus and Grange School’s Katie Gerrard fifth in the junior girls’ 1,500m.

James Ayre (Weaverham) placed fifth too in the inter boys’ 800m in a race won by Cheshire rival Jack Gleave.

There was success for Cheshire too in the junior boys’ 800m as 14-year-old Matthew Sheen, who runs for Vale Royal Athletics Club, claimed the gold medal in 2:05.4.