CROSS country star Hannah Warburton has won her first international vest -- at the age of 13.

The Bedford High schoolgirl will represent England in a schools' international in Scotland next month following her performance in the English Schools' championships in Kent on Saturday.

The selection tops an outstanding winter season for Leigh Harrier Hannah who recently finished runner-up in the national championships for her agegroup.

Wearing the colours of Greater Manchester Hannah, trained by coach Joe Galvin, was again in top form running as a first year junior against older opposition.

As a member of the eight-strong county squad, which won team silver overall, Hannah took on the cream of cross country runners from 44 counties over the tough 3000m course.

Fourth out of the pen Hannah was down in the 50s after the opening two minutes, but with true grit and determination she battled her way back to eighth clocking 11min 44sec to guarantee her place in the international squad.

Hannah is the first Leigh Harrier for eight years to represent England at cross country, the last being 24-years-old Peter Riley, who is now a fully fledged cross country international with an Olympic goal.

Joe said: "We're all still on cloud nine. This is a great achievement."

In his first year as a senior Thomas Boardman ran well over the 6,600m course to take 23rd spot while in the intermediate girls' event Rebecca Howarth was fifth counter for the Greater Manchester team finishing in a creditable 110th place.