YASMIN Smith's valiant attempt to win a medal ended in disappointment - but the 17-year-old Swindon New College student can take great encouragement from her performance in the South West Schools' Cross Country Championships, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

In her final attempt at the event, over a fast course at the Crypt School in Gloucester, Smith was determined to do better than fifth place last year.

She did that with a splendid fourth and, in truth, that was as good as she could expect considering that the three girls ahead of her had all represented England and Great Britain in international fixtures in the past year.

Indeed Joanne Harvey, who won the race, ran for the GB Under 20 women at the European Championships before Christmas and is regarded as one of the best athletes in the country while runner-up Katie Knowles and Jess Burns in third are not far behind.

"I did better than I thought to be honest," said Smith, who is a member of Swindon Harriers.

"I was fifth last year so I achieved what I wanted to do and that was finish higher and the top three girls are so good.

"I went off with them on the first lap but when Jo pushed on the pace I couldn't keep with that."

Smith has only concentrated on athletics for the past three or four months after spending most of last year doing triathlons.

"I still swim once or twice a week and I think that helps with my fitness but I don't have time to bike," added Smith. "Considering I have only been focussing on the running for a couple of months I am very pleased with my run."

Wiltshire teammate Emily Connolly, also a Harrier, performed well too, finishing sixth in one of the best races of the day.

In an excellent meeting attracting the top athletes from Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Somerset, medals were hard to come by for the Wiltshire team.

But there were two golds, both in the minor age groups.

Chippenham's Hardenhuish School student Loren Bleaken won the minor girls' title while Miles Burton, an 11-year-old at St Lawrence School in Bradford-on-Avon, lifted the boys' crown.

Burton also led the Wiltshire squad to team bronze with Christian Mead, Joe Grant and Sam Evans also making the top 20.

Swindon Harriers' county champion Richard Batsford led home the Wiltshire squad in the senior boys' race making the top 20 in 18th place with twin brother Stuart 22nd.