Simon Baker needed a sprint finish to win the Sussex Cross Country Championship under-15 boys race at Bexhill Down.

He found some extra speed in the final 50m to pass Matt Southam (Eastbourne) and take the title, raced over two and a half miles, in 17min.14sec. Daniel Stepney (Hastings) won the bronze medal.

Horsham Blue Star's Richard Hoad, winner of the last league event, was not able to run because of a heavy cold that has prevented him training since Christmas.

Charlotte Browning (Chichester) led from start to finish to win the under-15 girls' two-mile race.

She is probably at her best over a firmer, faster course but made light work of the mud and water that sapped the strength of all other competitors over a notoriously tough course.

Charlotte won the same title in Stanmer Park 12 months ago.

She was over 30 seconds ahead of her nearest rival and it was another dominating run from one of the most promising middle distance runners in Sussex.

Sarah Garrett (Worthing) revelled in the conditions and produced the finest run of her career to take the silver medal ahead of Emily Goodall (Crawley), who did have the better of their clashes this season.

Craig Ivemy (Hailsham) proved he has recovered from the stress fracture that ruled him out for three months with victory in the under-17s' three-mile race.

He led from the start and stretched his advantage to the finish to retain his title by more than one minute.

Reigning under-15 champion Tom Bilham (Chichester) took the silver medal and was comfortably clear of Jonathan Randle (Horsham Blue Star).

Todd Leckie (Hailsham), runner-up in the under-15 event last year, was close up in fourth place.

Cheryl Heath (Hastings Runners) took the under-17 girls two-mile title but only shook off Brighton and Hove's Katy Moore over the last half-mile.

The first five runners contested the under-15 championship 12 months ago.

Sundai Boulton tasted victory for the first time this season and led a whitewash for the Phoenix Club in the under-13 girls one-mile championship.

Sundai led from the start to finish 50 yards ahead of Savannah Echel-Thompson and Millie Jones.

Phoenix clubmate Matthew Barrie, who won the last league race, just got the better of Chichester's Chris West, winner of the first league event, by just four seconds. The title was in doubt until the last 100 yards.