Keep it very quiet but Herne Hill Harrier Katy-Ann McDonald has been tipped to be the next big British athletics star.

The Ursuline High School pupil, 12, has had a superb cross country season and came second in the English Schools Cross Country Championships junior girls’ race last weekend.

She clocked 11 minutes, two seconds over the 3.2km course as she just lost a thrilling race with Katy Whiteoak. She was first in her age group though as she is an U13 runner and Whiteoak an U15.

It secured her place to represent England at the Schools and Home Counties International Cross Championships near Swansea this Saturday, and was another medal to add to her four U13 titles at the Surrey Schools, Surrey County, Inter-Counties and national cross country championships.

“She could go all the way,” said coach Phil Kissi.

“We set out for these titles in September and we got everyone of them.

“She is a great talent and one of the most talented athletes I have handled in 13 years of coaching.

“It is a name that is going to be a household name in the next three years.

“It has to be handled with care though. I look after the press and coaching side and her mum and dad the schooling. The school has been key too and it seems a good approach to keep her feet on the ground.”

McDonald’s fellow Harrier Lewis Lloyd will run for Great Britain & Northern Ireland in the junior men’s race at the World Cross Country Championship in Poland this Sunday.