Athletics Jill makes the most of last-minute England call up

JILL Harrison answered a late call-up from her country and was rewarded with two medals in the British & Irish Masters Cross Country International in Leeds.

- Kevin FAHEY

Team Gold: Ben Robinson, centre, with club-mate David Awde on his left

Harrison had initially been named as first reserve for the England over 65s women's squad but then her unfortunate Bristol & West AC clubmate Sian Davis Park was forced to drop out with injury.

"I was already staying in Leeds on Friday when I got the call to race," said Harrison.

"I was never going to run just the open race (available to all the reserves who travelled to the competition) so had entered a 5k road event in York but luckily I had my spikes with me so I was good to go although I feel bad for Sian having to miss the race."

Harrison, whose last international outing was to win three medals at the European Masters Track & Field Championships in Madeira, proved she is as equally at home on the mud with a determined performance around the well-known Roundhay Park course.