Blackburn's Karl Billington has been chosen to represent England Schools at the SIAB Cross Country at Perth in Scotland following a tremendous run at the English Schools Cross Country Championships in Sefton Park, Liverpool.
The 15-year-old student of Our Lady and St Johns School finished eighth in the Intermediate Boys' Race to grab the last place in the team, holding his form in the home straight under considerable pressure from his pursuers.
Billington has been a revelation since joining Blackburn Harriers a little over a year ago and has already won the U17 titles in the Mid Lancs and Red Rose Leagues, as well as the Lancashire Schools' title which gained him selection for Liverpool.
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He was also the silver medallist in the Lancashire AA County Championships and will run for Lancashire in the Inter Counties Championships next weekend, before embarking on his Scotland trip on March 28.
The senior girls were the pick of the Lancashire teams at Sefton Park, finishing second county to Hampshire.
Hannah Bateson from Lancaster was seventh as Alison Leonard from South Ribble and Blackburn's Rachel Wood gained high points with 21st and 37th.
A feature of the team was that they all packed well, with even the sixth and final counter, Katie Ireland from Hyndburn, well up in 104th of 309.
The junior girls even won a prize for their packing - the Steadman Trophy for being the first county to get all eight of their athletes home.
Girls: Junior: 115 (3rd Lancs) Melissa Berry (Pendle) 119 (4) Beckie Taylor (Blackburn) 181 (7) Jade Lord (Pendle) 236 (8) Holly Crabtree (Pendle) Intermediate: 107 (3) Emma Flanagan (Blackburn) 116 (4) Lucie Patry (Chorley) 119 (5) Michaela Brolly (Pendle) Senior: 21 (2) Alison Leonard (South Ribble) 37 (3) Rachel Wood (Blackburn) 104 (6) Katie Ireland (Hyndburn) 193 (8) Melanie Taylor (Blackburn)
Boys: Junior: 119 (4th Lancs) Dominic Walton (Rossendale) 187 (7) Rob Warner (Hyndburn) Intermediate: 8 (1) Karl Billington (Blackburn) 94 (2) Anthony Hauserman (Rossendale) 97 (3) Ashley Kay (Rossendale) 162 (6) Joe Basquill (Hyndburn) 171 (7) Daniel Westgate (Burnley) Senior: 79 (2) Peter Matthews (Blackburn) 158 (5) Phil Bolton (Hyndburn) 181 (6) Jack Thompson (Pendle).
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