THE U13 girls made the strongest showing for Ealing Southall and Middlesex at the latest Metropolitan League race at Wormwood Scrubs.

The youngsters finished second in their race and that put the gloss on an improved turnout by the club's juniors, as full teams were fielded in all age groups.

The U13s were led home by an improving Besirat Tesfu, who was fourth overall, and she was backed up by a trio of newcomers: Dhara Thompson in 12th, Hollie Hannington in 17th and Georgia Gibbes in 22nd. The team are now just three points off second place in the league.

The U13 boys fielded their first full team of the season. David Hannah was their first finisher in 24th. Bradley Pinder was 26th, William Lord 28th, Callum Fogarty-Cameron 32nd and Conor McCarthy 33rd.

Kerry Baily was the best U17, finishing 10th in her race. Evie King was 23rd ahead of Shannon Powell in 26th. Nicola Shelly completed the line up in 32nd.

Ben Waterman had an outstanding run for the U17 boys. He moved up ten places from last time to place 10th. Conor Hearn was 50m back in 15th. U15 Adam Way was 32nd with William Pinder 39th.

Tommy Fogarty-Cameron was 50th and Jordan Hannington 55th as the team finished seventh with just one point separating them from fifth and sixth.

Four of the six scorers in the women's team were making their season's debut in the league. Gemma Marrs (27th) made the most of the flat course but was caught late in the race by Fiona Kennedy (26th).

Sarah Richardson made steady progress throughout the race but had to settle for 35th place. Patricia Thomas took the fourth scoring berth in 53rd. Behind her were three cross-country newcomers Simonetta Taccuso (80th), Dorota Pasek (83rd) and Niamh Holt (84th).

Richard Tomlinson (75th) turned the tables on Jamie Taylor-Caldwell (86th) as the pair reversed positions from last week. Rob Brown finished 97th, just two seconds ahead of Andy Dodd (101st). Bill Gristwood was the first over-50 in the race in 115th.

Other finishers: Chris Hepworth 134th,, Anthony Shaw 174th , Alex Leslie 200th, Phil York 208th, Steve Plested 213th, Yohannes Tesfu 247th and Eamon Bradley 251st.