WITH many athletes having run 24 hours earlier in the Hampshire Cross-Country Championships, Team Southampton sent a weakened team to the Wessex Cross-Country League fixture at Devizes.

But Sasha Mucci showed no ill-effects of her fourth-placed finish at Dibden the day before, powering to victory in the under-17 women's race ahead of joint league leader Amanda Bailey.

Sasha's sister Domi - 11th in the County Championships - finished a season's best seventh in the Wessex League ahead of Emma Renouf, 13th, and Stephanie Singer, who finished 16th on her debut to ensure Southampton stayed top of the league standings.

Southampton's under-15 boys packed the top places at Devizes with Renato Veraj, Chris Dennis and Jamie Knapp finishing second, third and fifth respectively on a very muddy course. Indeed, such is their strength in depth in that age group that Southampton's A team lead the league while the B team are placed third overall after four fixtures.

There were brave runs too from a number of younger runners in difficult, wet conditions. Kellie Porter finished 21st despite twisting an ankle in the final run-in and debutante Hannah Ransome and Kathryn Webb ran well to make up the under-13 girls' team.

In the under-11s' mixed race, Harry Whitehead was 19th, Matthew Knapp 17th and Hannah Musker sixth girl.

Katrina Brace (10th), Harriet Walters (17th) and Kay Shafford (18th) made up the under-15 girls team - all three managing to keep their shoes while others lost theirs in the thick mud.

Team Solent return to action tomorrow in the Hampshire Cross-Country League at Prospect Park, Reading.

Other results

Under-15 boys - L Mucci 8th, S Gallant 9th, D Goodwin 14th, M Slade 19th.

Under-13 boys - A Bennett 6th, S Hayson 12th.

Senior women - K Hiscock (vet-40) 27th.