European cross country team gold medallist Phoebe Law fought off illness to show her class as she won the U20 women’s race at the Milton Keynes Cross Challenge on Saturday.

The Kingston & Polytechnic Harrier 18-year-old took her time on the opening lap but responded in the second lap to clock 17 minutes 37 seconds and pip Bronwen Owen to the win by 10 seconds.

“It was amazing – I don’t usually win races so it’s nice to do it here,” said Law.

“I’ve been ill this week but I’ve still managed to do my sessions, but I’ve just been very slow and sluggish.

“I wanted to see what the pace was like on the first lap and decide from there what to do. I just gave it everything in that final stretch.”

She added: “It [the European gold] gives you confidence because when you are warming up you are thinking, come on, you’ve represented GB, and if I can run in Bulgaria I can run anywhere.”

Kingston & Polytechnic Harriers’ James Robertson won the Surrey Men’s Cross Country League Division Three race on Saturday.