DON Lennon has praised a Ribble Valley trio of athletes after they recently won the under 17 North West and Lancashire road relay title.

Lucy Lennon, Millie Wood and Georgie Smith were victorious at under 17 level after competing in the under-15 last year, when they were seventh in the North West and second in Lancashire.

But, making the step up in their first year in the under 17 age group, they stunned their rivals by taking first place in both competitions.

Lennon said: “It is a fantastic achievement from them considering Georgie Smith is in her last year as an under 15.

“Georgie was moved up to the U17 team after showing great form over the summer, she managed to step in and run strongly for the team.

“Lucy Lennon ran the first leg coming home in second place on her leg to hand over to Millie Wood who ran a storming leg to bring the team back in first place, handing over to Georgie Smith.

“Georgie ran a very strong leg to hold the lead and cross the line in first place to take both titles.”

Wood is one of the country’s top under 17 1500m runners finishing eighth at the English Schools Track and Field Championships and before that finished 22nd at the English Schools Cross Country Championships.

She is also a double county champion – winning both the 1500m and the 3000m – as well as county schools champion over 1500m.

Lennon represented Lancashire this year at the Inter Counties Championships finishing third.

She is currently ranked sixth in the country indoors for the 400m and will concentrate on this over the next few years.