Highgate Harriers’ Shaun Dixon finished 12th out of over 12,000 runners at the World Half Marathon Championships on Sunday, recording his second best time over the distance.

Dixon crossed the line in one hour seven minutes 47 seconds in Cardiff, barely a minute outside his personal best, and is set to be a key man when Highgate contest the National 12-Stage Road Relay in the Midlands on April 16.

Meanwhile, the Harriers sent 32 youngsters from years 5 and 6 to the inaugural National Primary Schools Championships at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire – which marked the end of the junior cross-country season.

There were several falls over a very challenging and muddy course but Highgate’s year 6 boys’ contingent performed well, with their top four finishers all coming inside the first 30 out of 170 competitors.

Mateo West was 25th, closely followed by clubmates Ezra Baddiel Banks (26th), Jesse Hopkins (28th) and Jack Bailey (30th).

Thea Reinhardt and Caspar Hopkins were both 32nd in their year 5 races – despite Reinhardt actually being in year 4 – while Camille Alaphillipe put in a spirited effort in her only cross-country outing this season in the year 6 event.

Elsewhere, Dominic Ogbechie set a club record for his age in the high jump, clearing 1.85m at Lee Valley Indoor Arena.

His effort was also the best performance from an Under-15 athlete at a Middlesex Championship indoor event – and Ogbechie got a bronze medal in the Under-15 boys’ 60m competition too, clocking 7.65 seconds to just overcome fellow Highgate youngster Tyreece Rankin, who posted the same time, as well as seventh-placed David Wong.

Alex Evelegh claimed the gold in the senior men’s 200m, while Alima Diabate bagged a silver in the senior women’s 200m (27.8).

Emmanuel Enumewe won the top prize in the Under-17 men’s shot put with a throw of 11.05m and he also ran a PB of 7.82 in the 60m, while Samuel Adesanya took silver in the Under-17 60m and Azeez Amode made the final too after posting a best time of 7.64 in the heat.

Adesanya added to his medal collection with a silver in the long jump and Shania Umah grabbed a bronze in the Under-15 girls’ 60m in a PB of 7.97.

Highgate Harriers will hold their early season open meeting at Parliament Hill Fields on Wednesday. Entries close at midnight on Sunday. Visit http://www.highgateharriers.org.uk/ for details.