GIRLS from Vale Royal Athletics Club captured the attention of England selectors at Saturday’s Aviva England Schools’ Cross Country Championships.

Jessica Parsons (Helsby High School) and Grange School pupil Katie Gerrard have been invited to run in their country’s colours later this month as a reward for their impressive performance at NAS Merryfield in Somerset.

Parsons finished in 12th place – the best individual result for a Cheshire female on the day – in the inter girls’ race with teammate Gerrard next across the line after her.

It was enough to secure both girls a place in the England team for the Schools International Athletics Board (SIAB) Cross Country Match at Perth, in Scotland, on Saturday week.

County High School Leftwich student Elliot Bowker capped a fine cross country campaign with 14th position in the inter boys’ race for the Yorkshire Trophy, a category in which Cheshire scored their best collective finish – sixth – of the day.

Leftwich trio Lucy Scott (inter girls), Nathan Tipping (inter boys) and William Nowell (junior boys) represented Cheshire too along with Mid-Cheshire College’s Andrew Miles (senior boys) and Kate Moulds (senior girls).

Jonathan Owen (Grange School) raced in the junior boys’ category.