Becoming Middlesex U17 girls cross country champion at the weekend came as a surprise to Hannah Novakovic and she now knows there is more work to be done.

The Orleans Park School student, who trains with coach Noel Stoddart’s Harambee training group in Bushy Park and Richmond Park, clocked 19 minutes nine seconds in Alexandra Palace on Sunday to romp home 30 seconds ahead of her nearest rival Georgia Fear.

It means the Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow Athletics Club 16-year-old qualifies to represent Middlesex at the national inter-counties match in Birmingham in March.

“It was very hilly and muddy,” she said.

“I didn’t expect to do that well as I didn’t know who I was going to be racing against, but I had done some good sessions in the build up.

“I am not sure what is next for me, but I think I will just continue training hard.”

It was a successful championship for St Mary’s Richmond Athletics Club, who collected one gold and three silver medals at Alexandra Palace.

Kate Brown, 24, led the way with a dominant performance to win the senior women’s race in 30:47, while 13-year-old Isabel Atkins clocked 13:37 to claim silver in the U13 girls’ event.

The club’s men were determined not to be out-performed as Rory Atkins, 20, won silver in the U20 men’s race in a time of 27:05, and 16-year-old Aaron Farr was second in the U17 men’s race in a time of 21:24.

At the Surrey Cross Country Championships in Croydon, Ranelagh Harriers 24-year-old Ralph Street claimed bronze in the senior men’s race in 41:56, while clubmate Gill Sanders matched that effort in the senior women’s race in a time of 31:33.