WORCESTERSHIRE schoolgirl Katja Carlton-Smith is proving to be one of the brightest young running talents in the country.

The 11-year-old Abberley Hall School pupil recently finished off an excellent week of cross country running in superb fashion by winning the national prep schools championships.

Hosted by Malvern College, conditions for the national event were perfect and resulted in some fast races.

Having won races at both St Richard’s School and King’s Hawford recently, Carlton-Smith, who lives in Herefordshire, triumphed at the national event in a huge field of 180 girls, finishing the 1.7km distance in seven minutes 38 seconds.

“Katja is an exceptional talent and it was great for her to test herself against the best in the country in the prep school world,” said Nigel Richardson, head of sport at Abberley Hall.

“The rest of the team ran well and it was a very good experience competing in such big groups and against such talented runners.”

Meanwhile, there were perfect running conditions on the hilly cross country course at St Richard’s School, Bromyard, for the primary and prep school competitions. Eight schools sent teams for each day of the event, with a total of 262 runners taking part over the two days.

Results, primary schools, under 11 boys (teams): 1 Kimbolton Primary School; 2 Brockhampton Primary School; 3 Leominster Primary School.

Under 11 boys (individual): 1 William Hayward (St Richard’s); 2 Jacob Hackney (Kimbolton); 3 Joe Watkins (Bredenbury Primary School).

Under 11 girls (teams): 1 St Richard’s; 2 Tenbury Primary School; 3 Leominster Primary School.

Under 11 girls (individual): 1 Abigail Cunningham (St Richard’s); 2 Ellie Webb (Tenbury Primary School); 3 Amy Reynolds (Kimbolton).

Prep schools results, under 13 boys (teams): 1 Abberley Hall; 2 Moor Park; 3 St Richard’s.

Under 13 boys (individual): 1 Freddie Hall (Abberley Hall); 2 Callum Duncan (St Richard’s); 3 Dan Garvie (Abberley Hall).

Under 13 girls (teams): 1 Abberley Hall; 2 Moor Park; 3 St Richard’s.

Under 13 girls (individuals): 1 Imogen Macklow (Abberley Hall); 2 Iona Bromage (Moor Park); 3 Isobel Robb (St Richard’s).

Under 11 boys (teams): 1 Abberley Hall; 2 King’s St Albans; 3 King’s Hawford.

Under 11 boys (individual): 1 George Barrell (Abberley Hall); 2 Roddy Philips (Abberley Hall); 3 Tom Trow (King’s Hawford).

Under 11 girls (teams): 1 Abberley Hall; 2 St Richard’s; 3 Moor Park.

Under 11 girls (individual): 1 Katja Carlton-Smith (Abberley Hall); 2 Hattie Jones (Lucton); 3 Tatiana Watt (St Richard’s).