YOUNG athletes from across the county descended on Newtown's Dolerw Park for the annual schools' cross country.

The event has become a popular part of the school's sporting calendar and represents the first major outdoor event of the year.

As ever the event was well supported by the region's schools with Newtown, Welshpool, Llanidloes, Llanfair Caereinion, Llanfyllin and Bro Hyddgen joined by their southern counterparts from Llandrindod Wells, John Beddoes in Presteigne, Builth Wells, Gwernyfed and Christ College in Brecon.

The top finishers in each category secured a place in the Powys squad for the nationals to be held in Brecon next month.

Newtown celebrated several top finishes with Leah Roberts winning the middle girls race with Tayla Trigg third.

Olivia Robson topped the junior girls race with Carys Breeze taking second while Chloe Murton Davies was third on the lower junior girls race.

Meanwhile Oliver Jones and Aled Breeze both ended third in the junior and lower junior boys races.

Organiser Bernie Jones said: "Once again the Powys Schools cross country was a great event thanks to the support of the schools and the enthusiasm of the students that took part.

"Powys schools have always supported its students sporting opportunities and the cross country is a great way to develop the talent of young athletes from across the county."

Among the stars to have graced Dolerw Park on their way to national and international stardom is Llandrindod Wells twins Ffion and Rhianwedd Price as well as the Spa town's Heidi Davies.

Llanidloes' Lauren Williams and Welshpool's Abi Bowers have also previously starred at Dolerw Park.

Among this year's stars were Welshpool's Maddie Griffiths who led home fellow Welshpool athlete Gwenyver Kuipers to win the lower junior girls race while Gwernyfed's Jack Orgin won the boys event from Welshpool's Callum Morgan.

Olivia Robson and Carys Breeze led home the junior girls as Newtown topped the podium while Llandrindod Wells' Spencer Davies beat Welshpool's Deiniol Owen in the boys race.

Leah Roberts of Newtown won the middle girls event with Builth Wells' Tiegan Ward taking second spot while Dillon Gill fended off Welshpool classmate Carwyn Owen to win the boys event.

Coleg Powys' Lily Smith-Jarman won the senior girls race with Christ College's Kalina Etherington second while Brychan Price-Davies beat fellow Gwernyfed runner Evan Price-Davies to glory in the senior boys race.