The Kent Schools Cross-Country Championships drew nearly 700 runners to Wilmington Grammar School for competition in eight categories on Saturday, writes Alan Newman.

The first four in each age group above Year 7 gained automatic selection for the English Schools event at Castle Donnington on March 15.

Adam Wright (Bromley) enjoyed a 22-second margin of victory in the senior boys' race and Alasdair Kinloch (Thanet) took the intermediate boys' race by 13 seconds.

The junior boys' event featured a sprint finish won by Tom Kendrick (Tonbridge & Sevenoaks) and the Year 7 boys had the biggest field with 134 finishers. Joe Laffy (Canterbury & St Augustines) was the winner.

Emily McKane (Canterbury & St. Augustines) led the field in the senior girls' race and the intermediate event saw last year’s junior champion, Sabrina Sinha (Bromley), take another title - this time by seven seconds.

Holly Page (Bexley) stepped up from silver in 2013 to triumph in the junior girls' race by four seconds and the Year 7 girls saw 116 finishers headed by Elizabeth Miller of Tunbridge Wells.