THE super athletes of Southend High School for Boys are again the cross-country kings of England.

The Prittlewell Chase School retained the intermediate boys crown they won last year in the national final of the English Schools’ Cross-Country Cup at Shepshed, Leicester, on Saturday.

And, in the Sainsbury’s-sponsored event which brings together the top schools’ cross-country stars in England, Eastwood finished runners-up in the junior boys.

Southend High were led to victory by 17 points by sporting all-rounder Josh Rees, who also plays football for England.

In the junior boys Eastwood finished just nine points behind the Merseyside winners, St Anselm’s College, with Rob Frith their top star in sixth place. FitzWimarc, Rayleigh, had three teams competing: both boys’ events plus the junior girls.

Although not figuring among the top three teamwise, they did provide the top local individual finisher when Ben Austin finished runner-up in the intermediate boys.

In the girls’ competition, Southend High finished 13th in the junior event and ninth in the intermediate where Aimee Garnett was their individual star in fifth spot.

Sophie Riches (12th) was the top runner for Fitz girls, who finished 18th in the juniors.

Schools had battled through local and regional rounds and the intermediate boys’ success added to the magnificent record of Southend High for Boys in national athletic competitions in recent years.

Local results Junior boys: 2, Eastwood (85). 6, Rob Frith (10mins.24secs); 14, Ben Drake (10.35); 23, Jack Bridge (1041); 42, Reuben Browning (10.56); 54, Scott Tansley (11.04); 95, Perry Osborne (11.32); 4, FitzWimarc (115). 18, Daniel Gevaux (10.35); 21, George McCallion (10.41); 25, Peter Bowen (10.41); 51, Luke Wakeling (11.00); 57, Tate Baron (11.08); 59, Greg Sands (11.08). 135 athletes from 24 teams took part. Intermediate boys: 1, Southend High (31). 3, Joshua Rees (16.12); 6, Jack Fitsall (16.24); 8, Alex Short (16.33); 14, Harry Grose (16.44); 28, Joshua Pepper (17.10); 36, Oliver Kyriakides (17.23). 5, Eastwood (141). 12, Sam Brown (16.40); 38, James Blake (17.23); 42, Mason Creasey (17.29); 49, Zach Mashford (17.39); 58, Jack Pearman (17.50); 98, Luke Oliver (18.55). 6, FitzWimarc (156). 2, Ben Austin (16.04); 43, Jake McGrath (17.29); 52, Sean Butler (17.39); 59, Myron Hamilton (17.55); 60, Ellis Sands (17.55); 78, Oliver Herd (18.18). 133 athletes from 24 teams took part. Junior girls: 13, Southend High (208). 37, Olivia Tidd (9.53); 53, Amelia Knowles (10.13); 56, Hannah Jones (10.13); 62, Emma Jarvis (10.19); 108, Lorna Maclean (10.45); 109, Katie Willis (10.45). 18, FitzWimarc (236). 12, Sophie Riches (9.14); 20, Maisie Jones (9.31); 86, Shannon Wennington (10.33); 118, Lydia Cannon (10.57); 122, Lucy Hines (11.02); 138, Danielle Siversten (11.49). 143 athletes from 25 teams ran. Intermediate girls: 9, Southend High (159). 5, Aimee Garnett (10.39); 46, Emily Crow (11.50); 52, Alexandra Morgan (11.54); 61, Natalie Woodhouse (12.01); 86, Chloe Davis (12.20); 118, Daisy Durden (13.40). 134 athletes from 24 teams ran.