BARNT Green runner Becky Straw maintained her excellent form as she stormed to victory at the Midlands Cross Country Championships in Nottingham.

A sunny Wollaton Park set the scene for some excellent performances by members of Birchfield Harriers.

Leading the way was the 19-year-old.

She took the lead on the first lap of the U20 race and extended this over the second lap to come home in first place, a long way in front of the second placed finisher.

The teenager has returned to her best after recovering from two broken bones in her foot, which had put her out of action for most of 2014.

She marked her return to action in impressive style at the European Cross Country Championships in Bulgaria in December.

Straw finished eighth in the junior women category and was one of the national side’s four points-scoring athletes as GB brought home the gold.

The Birchfield Harriers runner made her comeback in Liverpool at the trial race in November, gaining automatic selection for the squad of six athletes that went to Bulgaria.

Now Straw is starting to focus on racing on the track and aims to qualify for the European U23s Athletic Championships in Tallin later in the year.

Straw is also looking at a USA university move.