Wandsworth’s cross-country star Alex Brown put last year’s London Youth Games disappointment behind her to win gold in the cross-country event this time around.

The pupil from Putney High School and Herne Hill Harrier won the U13 girls’ race on Parliament Hill on Saturday to help the borough begin their defence of the Jubilee Trophy in solid fashion.

The defending champions finished second overall in the women’s race, while the men finished eighth. Brown took gold over 2km clocking seven minutes, 27 seconds – 24 seconds ahead of silver medallist and Wandsworth team-mate Elmear Griffin of Thomas’s London Day Schools.

Brown, pictured right, said: “It’s great because I came fourth last year and just missed out. I’ve been training for this, and it’s my first big race of the season.

“I didn’t want to go too fast at the start because I knew there were big hills, so I worked my way through.

“It’s really nice competing with Wandsworth because I get to compete with people I haven’t raced before.

“After Christmas I have got all the big nationals. Hopefully I can get in the top 10.”

Other Wandsworth individual medallists were Katy-Ann McDonald in the women’s U15s race and Oscar Millard of Newton Preparatory School who took bronze in the men’s U13s race.

To compete for the borough of Wandsworth, visit londonyouthgames.org.