TEAM Solent's Helen Zenner has been named first reserve for England's under-20s for Sunday's (November 18) Reebok European Cross-Country Championship trials at Margate.

If she is not selected, the Oxford University student will run in any case as a member of the South of England side.

Zenner put herself into contention with a fine performance in the Reebok Challenge at Birmingham where she finished third under-20 woman, just a second behind Kettering runner-up Sally Oldfield, who placed 15th in the Europeans last year.

Zenner's coach Rod Lock said: "After a poor summer on the track, Helen has worked hard to get back to the top of her age-group and she has a chance of doing well in the trials.

"She has managed to combine high-level training with her demanding academic studies at Oxford and I believe she is capable of following her training partner Angus Maclean into the England team.

"It will be difficult as the under-20 women's race will be very high class, but she is capable of finishing in the top five."

l Southampton City's girls tightened their grip on the Wessex Cross Country League top spots with team victories in the under-13, under-15 and under-17 age-groups at Newbury.

It followed good performances in the second Hampshire League fixture at Reading where both the under-13 and under-15 girls wound up in third place.

Laura Brenton stole the show for the under-17s at Newbury, leading home a City one-two with Tina Walker.

Due to other commitments City did not have enough athletes to make up a boys' team, but there were individual successes from Luca Mucci in the under-11 category and Scott Gallant for the under-13s.

Southampton City results - Under-11 girls: Louise Webb 1st, Megan Oakley 2nd.

Under-13 girls: Jodie Bowes 4th, Dominique Mucci 6th, Charlotte Benning 7th, Michelle Hallett 18th, Elizabeth Hall 22nd, Kitty Dwyer 30th.

Under-15 girls: Lucy Bowers 2nd, Sasha Mucci 3rd, Claire Gallant 4th, Sally McGrandle 19th, Lucy Newbegin 21st, Joanne Foot 24th.

Under-17 women: Laura Brenton 1st, Tina Walker 2nd, Sophie Hall 5th, Jessica McMonagle 6th, Kate McGrandle 10th.

Under-11 boys: Luca Mucci 1st, Craig Hiscock 2nd.

Under-15 boys: Aaron Davies 1st, Greg Prentice 16th.

l In-form Hayley Pointer improved to third under-13 girl in the second round of the Wessex Cross Country League at Newbury.

The Noadswood youngster was followed home by New Forest Juniors clubmates Lizzie Edwards (34th), Laura Marazoli (36th) and Kay Lafford (42nd).

Applemore's Matt Scarfe finished a best ever fifth in the under-15 boys' category while, in the equivalent girls' age-group, Jade Davies was the first NFJ runner home in 13th, ahead of Charlotte Marsden (18th) and Louise Goodchild (30th).

Next up for the Juniors is the Hampshire Sportshall League for under-11s and under-13s at Basingstoke this Sunday (November 18).