CREWE'S Stevie Stockton caused a major upset in the North Staffs Cross Country League meeting on Saturday at Leek.
The 17-year-old South Cheshire College student took part in a titanic battle with City of Stoke's top senior runner Michelle Ross-Cope in the four-mile event.
And the former Coppenhall School pupil powered away in the closing stages to pull off a superb shock victory.
Vale Royal AC coach Shaun McGrath said: 'This rounds off a sensational year for Stevie. She has already won at the North of England Cross Country Championships, ran for England in Italy in the World Schools Championships, and took team gold in the televised Inter-counties Cross Country event. Her Vale Royal team has emerged as one of the best in the UK.'
He added: 'Stevie is now looking forward to 2007, starting with the Cheshire Championships at Winsford in January, followed by the North of England Championships in the same month.'
Stevie was one of 69 athletes who started the race. Her junior clubmate Charlotte Roach finished in an impressive fourth.
South Cheshire Harriers ace Mike Cutler, and Crewe and Nantwich AC man Andy Jones, took part in the men's senior event. Cutler clocked 81:18 and finished 353rd out of 609 at the Stockport 10K race on Sunday.
He was also among the five Harriers who took part in the 10K Dales Dash at Newcastle. Then, Melvyn Cole (48:30) was the first Harrier home, followed Nigel Lofkin (49:02). Clive Holland and Cindy
Morrissette made up the quintet. Nine Harriers travelled to Wrexham for the Helena Tipping 10K race. First home for the club was Steve Dawson (41:34), while newcomer Rachel Eite clocked 49 minutes.
Other runners were Rob Mayers, Andy Mayers, Martin Stirna, Dave Griffiths, John Latham, Angus Varley and Viv Colclough.
