Highgate Harriers women go into the final Metropolitan League Cross Country meeting with a healthy lead after Saturday's penultimate race at Wormwood Scrubs. Harriers now have 2,864 points, well ahead of second- placed Woodford Green & Essex ladies

Highgate Harriers women go into the final Metropolitan League Cross Country meeting with a healthy lead after Saturday's penultimate race at Wormwood Scrubs.

Harriers now have 2,864 points, well ahead of second- placed Woodford Green & Essex ladies (2,464) while London Heathside (2,398) are further back in third spot.

Esther Evans finished second in the women's race in 16mins 35secs while Astrid Wingler (16mins 45secs) was fourth and the second veteran home.

They were followed by Kate Jenrick (17mins 46secs) 17th, Fiona Burnie (18mins 2secs) 24th, Natasha Cendrowicz (18mins 9secs) 28th, Louise Burnei (18mins 15secs) 29th, Alex Goodwin (18mins 35secs) 40th, and Natasha Vasey (19mins 32secs) 64th.

The individual winner was Victoria Webster of Shaftesbury Barnet.

In the men's race, Harriers captain Henry Dodwell came third out of the 287 finishers in 28mins 59secs, ahead of team-mates Ryan McKinlay (30mins 54secs) 24th, Atak Ding (30mins 56secs) 25th, Peter Downie (31mins 6secs) 34th, Chris Panayioutou (32mins 30secs) 60th, Alistair Lindsay (32mins 59secs) 71st and Joseph Lowe (33mins 27secs) 91st.

Harriers (10,471) are fourth overall, well behind leaders Woodford Green & Essex Ladies (12,571).

In the under-17 men's race Lawrence Matthewman (16mins 7secs) finished 12th, ahead of team-mates William Laing (17mins 36secs) 29th, David Mobbs (17mins 49secs) 30th and George Laing (19mins 8secs) 43rd. Harriers came sixth out of the 14 clubs.

In the under-15s girls' race, Alice Keane (15mins 20secs) was 11th out of the 40runners.

The final Metropolitan League race will be held at Perivale on February 10.

Before then, Harriers women travel to Norfolk for the South of England Championships on January 27.