Oakbank school's cross country runners did the school proud at a national championships in London last weekend.

Year-10 pupil Helen Glover and Sam Clegg, year nine, represented West Yorkshire in the competition held at Parliament Hill on Saturday.

Helen, 15, running in the intermediate girls' race, came 43rd out of field of 322, placing her fourth out of the girls from West Yorkshire.

The county's team won the intermediate girls' race for the first time in 10 years.

Oakbank's cross country coach, Will Smith, said: "Helen is the first Oakbank girl to be selected for West Yorkshire at All England Schools Cross Country level.

"She is the youngest she could be for her category, and was racing against girls a year older. A year can make a big difference for people at this age."

Helen also ran at the English Cross Country championships at Stoke and came 22nd, which gives her an official rating of 22nd in the country.

Will said: "It is a really prestigious race and you have got to be up to an excellent standard."

"Helen has a lot of work and a lot of training to do but she is really dedicated. She's got the ability to go to the top."

Sam Clegg also ran in the junior boys' race in London and was placed 152nd out of a field of over 300. The West Yorkshire Junior boys team came 12th overall.

Will Smith said: "Sam has running commitments outside school so it is excellent that a year nine student has been selected. The school is very proud of them both."

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