WYCOMBE Phoenix face an uphill struggle in more ways than one after last Saturday’s Chiltern League fixture left them 14th in Division One.

With a number athletes unavailable for the long trip to Keysoe, partly due to school fixtures, Phoenix were short on numbers and it cost them in the overall placings.

The combined U17s and U20 women’s team did themselves proud though by finishing second despite all their runners being in the younger group.

Natasha Taylor finished second with Emma Delgado third and Megan Styles tenth as Wycombe went first overall in that category.

Meanwhile, the U13 girls continued their dream start to the season by finishing second on the day but staying top of the table overall.

Kirsten Stilwell won the 2km race by 12 seconds with Holly Hodgkinson (eighth), Cerys Vico (13th), Sian Vico (26th), Mia Waterhouse (27th) and Emma Styles (31st) completing the team.

Fine individual performances on the day came from Joe Styles (fifth U13 boys), Kieran Gilfedder (tenth U20 men) and Ben Sendall (13th U20).

Meanwhile, in only her second competitive race, Emma Butcher was 12th in the senior women’s race.