Sarah Hopkinson will launch her comeback from long-term injury at the South West Schools' Cross Country Championships on Saturday.

The 17-year-old from Cheltenham, who has won several national championships, is included in the Gloucestershire squad for the event at Taunton Racecourse and is relishing the chance to compete again.

"My training is going well now after missing the whole of the track season last year due to a stress reaction on the femur bone," said Hopkinson. "It was a really bad place to have it so I couldn't do anything until October.

"Since then I have been building up slowly and I didn't want to rush things and suffer a setback and make things worse.

"I feel I am getting into shape though I have not idea how fit I am – I'll tell you after the weekend!"

Hopkinson will run the senior girls' race but is unlikely to threaten favourite Devon No 1 Jess Burns or Avon champion Eleanor Wimshurst.

One of the best races of the day should be the intermediate girls' clash between Avon champion Floren Scrafton, who has already lifted the South West and Midland Counties crowns this winter, and Cornwall runner Annabel Gummow, who last week claimed a silver medal in the Under-15 girls' race at the English Championships.

The senior boys' race throws Gloucestershire's No 1 Matt Withey, who is determined to atone for a poor run in the National, up against Avon's Brett Halliwell, while Somerset's Nathan Young should also be in contention.

South West Cross Country Championships, Taunton racecourse, timetable – 1.30: Senior boys; 1.31: Minor girls; 1.55: Junior girls; 2.10: Inter boys; 2.30: Inter girls; 2.45: Senior girls; 3.00: Junior boys; 3.15: Minor boys.

The next Gloucestershire Cross Country League fixture at Leamington, which was postponed on its original date on February 7 due to the bad weather, will be held today.

Road racers can head to Gloucester for the White Horse Inn 5-mile event at Sandhurst on Saturday (3pm). For further details see the race website, which can be found at www.severnac.co.uk

The Castle Combe 10k road race is staged on Sunday around the motor racing circuit. For further details contact 07809 569303 or log on to www.dbmax.co.uk

Exmouth-based Tom Merson will start favourite for Sunday's Bideford half marathon, which incorporates the Devon Championships.

Nailsea Running Club's first race of the season is the Ironwood Challenge on Sunday (11am) from Long Ashton Sports Hall. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.nailsearunningclub.org.uk or runners can enter on the day of the race. For further information contact race director Joe Green on 07986 572557.

The fifth race in the Burnham 5k Winter series will be held next Thursday (7.30pm) from Burnham-on-Sea Leisure and Swimming Pool complex. Entries will be taken on the night and for further details call 01278 785909 or go to www.bospool.com