KATIE Ingram and Rachael Thomspon teamed up with the north west's newest world champion to win a silver medal at the weekend.

Karrie Hawitt, from Warrington AC, won the under-20 women's race at the World Mountain Running Trophy on Mount Alyeska in Girdwood, Alaska.

She then combined with the two East Lancashire girls to take the under-20s team silver medal, as Thompson finished eighth and Ingram 23rd.

Rachael, from Astley near Wigan, attends Westholme School in Blackburn, while Katie, a former member of Chorley Harriers lives in Astley Village, Chorley.

Their achievement is all the more remarkable because all three women are still eligible to compete as under-18s.

Last winter Hawitt won the national and northern cross country titles and in the opening English Fell Championship race of the season at the Wrekin, Hawitt and Ingram finished first and second, beating not only all the under 20s, but also all the seniors.

That day Hawitt underlined her potential by finishing four minutes clear of Ingram the defending English champion.

The format of the World Trophy alternates with an uphill only race on even years with an up and down course on the odd years.

Karrie, who specialises in hair-raising descents, relished it this year as she won by 24 seconds in 17 minutes, 24 seconds.

With two counters per team, Slovenia took team gold with seven points, England finishing on nine.

For 17-year-old Rachael, England's second counter, it was a fabulous climax to her first season running on the fells after disappointment on the track.

She collapsed in the 1500m race at the Lancashire Schools Championships having torn a hip muscle and spent five weeks out of action.

Her first race back was the English Championship Fell Race at Sedburgh, and for fear of unnerving her, her parents deliberately didn't tell her it was also the World trial.

She duly won the third and final place in the team and the Alaskan trip is the first time she has competed abroad.

Like Rachael, 18-year-old Katie is a member of Horwich Harriers. Very much a fell specialist, she has won English titles in the under-14, under-16 and under-18 age groups.

Last year she finished 31st in the World Trophy at Innsbruck in Austria, so this year's 23rd represents a substantial improvement.

She will spend just 24 hours back at home before leaving for Loughborough University where she will start a combined degree course in English and Sports Science.

Tricia Sloan, the Salford Harrier from Slaidburn, was Northern Ireland's first counter with 40th place in the senior women's race. Scotland won team gold as the Northern Ireland women finished 12th.