GRACE Copeland turned the tables on the south’s top under-13 girls to win the English National Cross-Country Championships.

Coming off the final bend at Nottingham’s Wollaton Park, it seemed she might struggle to defend second place from her Hampshire League rival, southern champion Josie Czura.

Once Wimborne AC star Copeland began to sprint, however, not only did that challenge fall away, but she scented an improbable victory, closing a substantial gap on Alex Brown.

Though the Herne Hill Harrier led the 2013 British 1500m rankings for this age group, Copeland edged the judges’ verdict.

Copeland’s perfectly-timed sprint earned gold ahead of the trio who beat her at the South of England Championships four weeks ago. Both first and second were timed at 11:42 for 3km.

Copeland, who is coached by Bob Smith and Wimborne AC’s Ian Kennedy, also leads the British Athletics Cross Challenge Series after wins in Liverpool and Cardiff and a second place in Bristol.

Her club-mate Liam Murphy-Parry finished 28th in the under- 13 boys’ category.

Tom Austin (32nd, junior men) and Elisabeth Hood (45th, under-17 women) were the pick of Poole AC’s competitors.

English National Cross-Country Championships at Wollaton Park (Nottingham) – Under-13 Girls: 1 Grace Copeland (WAC) 11:42, 2 Alex Brown (Herne Hill) 11:42, 3 Josie Czura (City of Portsmouth) 11:46.

Other local results – Junior Men: 32 Tom Austin (PAC) 33:20, 65 David Long (BAC) 34:28, 69 Callum Kennedy (WAC) 34:33.

Under-17 Men: 73 Jason Sotheran (WAC) 21:47, 100 Ryan Walbridge (WAC) 22:06, 195 Niall Instone (PAC) 23:45, 236 Matthew Lay (PAC) 24:48, 272 Matthew Cornes (PAC) 30:11.

Under-15 Boys: 72 Ashley Parker (PAC) 15:27, 147 Piers Copeland (WAC) 16:09, 148 Tom Freeman (PAC) 16:09.

Under-13 Boys: 28 Liam Murphy-Parry (WAC) 11:45, 119 Michael Johnson (WAC) 12:29, 155 Elliott Symes (WAC) 12:45, 233 Fred Harris (PAC) 13:18, 271 Tom Rhodes (PAC) 13:32, 319 Max Freeman (PAC) 14:10.

Under-17 Women: 45 Elisabeth Hood (PAC) 20:02.

Under-15 Girls: 196 Abigail Rutter (PAC) 18:42.

Under-13 Girls: 1 Copeland 11:42, 279 Katie Corbin (PAC) 14:37.

Key to clubs: PAC – Poole AC, WAC – Wimborne AC.