A year on from the tragic death of one of her best friends Shannon Powell, Sky Draper took part in the 2012 championships with the memory of her friend very much in mind.

The 16- year-old Northwood College student made the short trip to Wormwood Scrubs to race on behalf Harrow Athletics Club and Draper was entered in the Under-17 Females race.

It was her first competition since early December but any possible lingering doubts about her race fitness were put firmly to the back of her mind as she led the field out from the starting gun.

Draper started well and had established an early a gap of 20 seconds between her and second place.

Into the final kilometre, two of the chase pack behind Draper gained momentum and started to eat into her lead.

However, Draper was determined enough to hold on in the final straight and crossed the line as Middlesex Under-17 Champion for 2012 in a time of 20:20.

“Coming into the race I really wanted to get the win, I guess as a way of honouring Shannon,” explained Draper.

“ I knew it would be a tough race, especially as we were running with the under-20s but I kept thinking of the work ethic she had always had and it gave me strength to push through and hold on to the lead.

"Today for me was about honouring her, and keeping alive the characteristics she installed in me.”

Not only had she led the Under-17 field from start to finish, but she had also done exactly the same to the Under-20 field.

The two runners chasing her down in the closing stages were both Under-20 athletes and the fact that Draper is a triathlete and has to train hard at two other disciplines (swimming and cycling) as well shows how impressive her performance was.

This win will entitle Draper to represent Middlesex in the Inter-Counties XC Championships in Birmingham in March.