MARYSE Haynes put her best foot forward at the start of the cross-country season as she raced to second place in the Chiltern Cross-Country League.

Haynes missed virtually all of the summer track season with injury but came surging back at Watford’s Cassiobury Park on Saturday.

In her best ever run in the senior section, she was beaten only by fellow University of Birmingham athlete Rebecca Murray as the Sports Science Technology student seeks to regain the form which earned her a Great Britain selection in January 2013.

Hayne’s run was the pinnacle of a very good day for the WSEH athletes, with the ladies finishing the day top of the league in the first of the five-race series.

There were also many promising efforts from a host of youngsters making their debuts in the blue and yellow colours.

One of the younger but regular athletes to take pride of place was Kate Thompson.

She ran a great race in the U13 age group to finish ninth and was second Windsor scorer on the day. Also scoring and in her first year in the U13 age group was Morgan Hanson, who was 20th in the division one event.

Completing the local contingent was Fran McLeod, who finished 35th to help the U13s to joint first in the team event.

Meanwhile, playing a big part in scoring in the men’s events was Kieran Wye.

He was making his 10m junior/senior debut and ran strongly to come home eighth overall and second scoring WSEH scorer.

Elsewhere, Matt Hindes made an excellent debut in the U15 boys event, crossing the line 30th overall and second scoring WSEH athlete.

In action in the U15 girls event Caroline Spence led home her training partners in 39th with Abi Fricker in 41st and Rhiannon ward in 47th.