WILL Christophi showed something more like his true form with a top twenty finish at the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Prestwold Park, Loughborough, on the weekend.
The Bristol & West AC runner (pictured left in the white & red vest) bounced back from his slightly below-par 37th at the English National two weeks previously as he finished 16th in the senior men’s race.
It was also an improvement on his 21st place twelve months ago.
That made Christofi second scorer behind the impressive Oliver Fox of Wells City Harriers, who had his best run as a senior to finish on the podium in third.
Christofi started conservatively and moved through the field steadily as did his clubmate as did Jack Millar, who was also pleased with his run to finish 26th. Both runners are coached by Dave Bedwell.
Also from the club Owain Jones, finally shaking off the calf injury that has hampered him over the past month, finished 87th and Andy Watt, returning from a nasty cold, was 108th.
Avon & Somerset (all B&W unless stated): 3 Oliver Fox (Wells), Will Christofi 16th, Luke Prior (AFD) 22nd, Jack Millar 26th, Owain Jones 87th, Andy Watt 108, Will Crudington (Team Bath) 149, Aaron Pritchard (Team Bath) 163, Christian Green (Wells) 186, Joseph Donworth (Frome) 241.
In the senior women’s race B&W’s Katrina Entwistle was 200th.
In the under 17 men’s race Westbury Harriers’ Abdi Hasan (pictured below left) was 52nd with Team Bath’s Alex Parsons 61st
In the under 13 girls’ age group newly-crowned Gwent League champion Keira Devereux of North Somerset AC (pictured right) was a creditable 46th.
Cornwall AC’s Grace Brock delivered the start performance from the West Country contingent as she won the under 20 women’s race.
The GB junior international enjoyed the best won of her career to secure her place in the national team for the World Championships.