RADLEY youngster Chr-istian von Eitzen finished in a brilliant second place in the under 13 boys’ race at Saturday’s Inter-Counties Cross Country Championship in Birmingham.

Von Eitzen was the stand-out Oxfordshire athlete in the event at Cofton Park.

The promising youngster was always in the running for victory over the 3km course, but missed out by one second in a sprint for the line.

But von Eitzen’s time of 10mins 23secs was an excellent performance nonetheless.

Unfortunately, his performance could not be matched by his county under 13 teammates, and they had to settle for 31st out of 39 teams.

Elsewhere, former Radley athlete Hatti Dean had to settle for ninth place in the senior women’s race, held over 8km.

Dean, running for Yorkshire, clocked 28.21, but led home her adopted county for team silver.

Oxfordshire’s senior women finished in 17th position.

They were led home by Headington Roadrunner Helen Barnes, who crossed the line in 50th place in 30.32.

Oxford City’s Melissa Hawtin produced a typically gritty display as she led home Oxfordshire’s under 17 team in an impressive fifth place.

Over the 5km course, Hawtin clocked 19.32 to help Oxfordshire to 23rd out of 39 teams.

Her performance secured her the bronze medal in the McCain Cross Challenge, of which the Inter Counties was the final race in the series.

Oxfordshire’s senior men finished a creditable 16th out of 30, with Witney Roadrunner Mathew Ashton leading the way in 48th place.

Ashton crossed the line in 37.42 on a 12km course.

Meanwhile, it was a disappointing day for Oxon’s under 20 men, who finished 28th of 29 teams, while the under 17 boys were 37th out of 40.

In the under 15 event, Oxon’s boys finished five places off last place in 37th.

Oxon’s under 20 women finished 18th out of 20 teams, despite an encouraging performance from Radley’s Megan Roberts, who finished 30th in 23.17 over a 6km course.

Two finishers inside the top 50 helped Oxon’s under 15 girls to 13th place in a field of 41 counties.

Lauren Hawtin (Oxford City) finished 27th in 16.17, while Banbury Harrier Connie McMillian was 42nd in 16.28 over a distance of 4km.

And Oxfordshire’s under 13s brought three runners home in the top 100 to finish 19th out of 40.

They were led in by Beth Hawtin in 50th place (12.00) over a distance of 3km, while Radley’s Megan Humphreys was 64th in 12.06 and Tory Mobley (Banbury) was 80th in 12.10.

OXFORDSHIRE RESULTS

Senior men: 48 M Ashton 37.42, 86 D Bellinger 38.44, 124 P Fernandez 39.49, 143 S Male 40.06, 148 P Haarer 40.14, 167 L Newell 40.38, 183 O Briscow 40.54, 215 O Ellis 41.45. Team: 16th.

Under 20 men: 163 C Lowe 30.53, 168 S Miller 31.18, 169 J Withers-Green 31.25, 185 S LeGood 33.13. Team: 28th.

Under 17 men: 100 A Duff 20.42, 140 G Miller 21.02, 161 S Jones 21.15, 196 E Nesbitt 21.41, 200 R Meredith 21.44, 218 J Humphreys 22.04, 236 A Holmes 22.28. Team: 37th.

Under 15 boys: 125 M Lomas 16.25, 133 M Marshall 16.27, 194 B Upjohn 16.53, 256 J Bowness 17.27, 273 F McAloon 17.48, 292 O Stepney 18.44. Team: 37th.

Under 13 boys: 2 C von Eitzen 10.23, 186 N Jones 11.53, 213 B Claridge 12.06, 251 C Miller 12.25, 252 R Crowther 12.26, 286 J Stainthorp 13.02. Team: 31st.

Senior women: 50 H Barnes 30.32, 116 R Kelling 32.22, 128 E Ridley 32.37, 160 M Lloyd 33.27, 202 S Matthews 34.28, 204 A Hopkins 34.31. Team: 17th.

Under 20 women: 30 M Roberts 23.17, 79 L Berg 25.39, 97 C Bradley 26.31, 125 J Brewer 28.31, 133 K Smith 30.50. Team: 18th.

Under 17 women: 5 M Hawtin 19.32, 92 G Bridge 21.19, 133 J Walker 21.53, 189 B Murphy-Hand 22.45, 244 S Stanley 24.49, 254 H Sangan 26.04, 255 B Pull 26.19. Team: 23rd.

Under 15 girls: 27 L Hawtin 16.17, 42 C McMillan 16.28, 101 C Parker 17.01, 123 I Kempton 17.10, 128 R Byren 17.16, 150 E Clark 17.29, 190 S Lloyd 17.47, 219 B James 18.06. Team: 13th.

Under 13 girls: 50 B Hawtin 12.00, 64 M Humphreys 12.06, 165 E Evans 12.44, 221 B Mulvany 13.07, 241 A Mobley 13.16, 250 E Davies 13.19, 276 C Thompson 13.46. Team: 19th.