THE last fixture of Metropolitan League campaign saw Ealing Southall & Middlesex winning two of the five league categories.

The U-17 men won a convincing victory, despite resting key runners ahead of next week's National Championships.

However, the story of the day was a last gasp victory by the U-15 girls' team who topped the league for the first time ever. They leapfrogged Newham & Essex Beagles and Woodford Green to win by two points, scoring 711 points with other teams scoring 709 and 706.

First home for the triumphant team was Chelsea McGuigan in sixth place.

Aisling Wall shook off Jessica Ward on the final down hill stretch to claim ninth with Ward close behind in 11th. After that the team's runners packed in well with Bianca Stock 14th, Katrina French 16th, Rianne Charles 17th and Debbie Lea in 18th place.

For the U-17 men's team it was a chance for the younger team members to show what they could do. They had to overcome a strange start as they headed down the wrong side of the field and ended up at the back of the race.

Abdi Igi soon hit the front and went on to record his first ever win in this category. Hussein Jama kept him in sight all the way around and was rewarded with third place. Daniel Grant in seventh and Gerrard O'Brien in 13th helped to wrap up the win.

THAMES Valley Harriers' Kate Nunn made it five in a row as Paul Jenkins led the Veterans field home in the final Metropolitan League match of the 2001-2002 cross country season, at Welwyn Garden City on Saturday.

In the Women's event over three miles, Diana Kennedy was determined to loosen Kate's grip on her lead role in each of the previous league contests.

As they climbed the first hill, 800 metres from the start, Diana was the leading club runner with Kate 20 metres behind.

By the time they reached the half distance, Nunn was up on Kennedy's shoulder and as they hit the muddy patch, Kate floated over the mud, and eased away, leaving Kennedy to struggle through.

No matter how much Kennedy tried to regain the initiative, Nunn was in full flight, and came home in ninth position, a full three seconds ahead of her rival who finished two place behind her.

Meanwhile, Eli Ogley, who had been in close contact with them during the opening half, felt the impact of her recent lack of training finishing in 23rd position.