ELI Ogley, in her National debut, led Thames Valley Harriers' Women's Cross Country Team to their highest ever team placing of 16th, in the prestigious English National Championships, over eight kilometres of the windswept heights of Ashton Court, Bristol on Saturday.

Kate Nunn, who had been the club's leading scorer throughout the season, was eclipsed by Ogley on this occasion.

The pair ran for the first of the two laps of the 8,000 metre course, locked together, just inside the first 100 runners. Going out into the final lap, Ogley edged past two runners to go ahead of Nunn, in the tightly bunched field of over 500 competitors.

Ogley, urged on by the club's supporters, made steady headway as she fought past runners to cross the line in 81st in an outstanding run, in a time of 33 minutes, 25 seconds ahead of Nunn, whose 98th was her highest ever national placing.

An elated Ogley said: "The support out there was great, it kept me going. I was certainly glad that we, as a team, walked the course beforehand, to have the best routes and angles to take, especially as it was my first national, and such a difficult, twisty terrain.

"I really enjoyed the atmosphere though."

Kate who was slightly disappointed with her 98th place, had also been hoping for an early to mid 80s final placing.

She said: "On the second lap my legs just felt very heavy and they did not seem to want to go, it was disappointing. But I'm very pleased for Eli."

The Men's 12,000 metres event, held over three laps of the course, started in sunshine but ended in blizzard conditions making it hard for the runners.

Manuel da Silva did well to be the club's first man home in the field of over 3,000 entries in 280th place in 46 minutes.