Dean heading for the World Championships following fine display

It was a fine run by the Hallamshire athlete who is having an excellent season, but she was no match for the outstanding young Hampshire runner Charlotte Purdue.

Only 19, and having her first run as a senior, Purdue is an exciting talent having taken the place at the head of the rankings which had belonged to her Aldershot team-mate Steph Twell, currently out of action with a broken ankle.

Dean spearheaded the Yorkshire challenge but they missed out on team medals, finishing fourth.

Yorkshire were also fourth in the men’s race, won by Hampshire’s Andy Vernon.

The Yorkshire team were led by Leeds City’s James Wilkinson in 13th place but they were a tantalising seven points away from claiming the bronze medals.

An excellent run by Leeds City’s James Walsh, competing for Warwickshire, gave him fifth place putting him in with a chance of selection for the World Championships.

Hallamshire’s Natalia Hackett scored a fine win in the Under-15 girls’ race, upsetting the favourite Bronwen Owen of Scarborough.

Owen had been unbeaten this year having won the Yorkshire, Northern and National titles, but Hackett ran the race of her life to finish 10 seconds clear of Owen with the rest well beaten.

With such a fine start,Yorkshire took the silver medals but were not quite strong enough to get the better of Surrey.

Leeds City’s Gordon Benson narrowly missed out on an individual medal, finishing fourth in the Under-17 race but he led Yorkshire to silver medals.

A good run by Spenborough’s Jenny Walsh, which saw her placed seventh, led Yorkshire to bronze medals in the junior women’s race.