BRISTOL & West AC runner Will Christofi produced the best performance of his career to date to virtually guarantee himself his first Great Britain vest.
The 22-year-old (pictured left leading on the track) finished 18th overall and third under 23 runner in the European Cross Country Championship trials event held in Liverpool on Saturday.
With UK Athletics’ selection policy stating that the first four runners will earn selection for the Europeans, which are being held in Sardinia on December 11th, Christofi is now just waiting for the call to confirm he is in the team to make his international debut.
“I was delighted with the race and it really hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Christofi.
Christofi is coached by Dave Bedwell at Bristol & West AC and has made steady progress since joining the club as a 16-year-old.
“Dave has done a great job with Will” said B&W team manager Mike Down.
“Will is also one of those runners who seems to be able to produce his best performance when it really matters. Saturday was a terrific run by him.”
Unfortunately it looks like clubmate Kate Maltby (pictured right) hasn’t quite done enough to join Christofi in the team for Italy. Maltby ran aggressively to lead the senior women’s race for long periods but faded in the closing stages to finish 11th.
Former Easy Runner/Bristol Post athlete of the month winner Florence Scrafton of Westbury Harriers finished 74th.
Also in the senior men’s race was Benedict Westhenry in 56th with Bristol & West clubmate Owain Jones 64th and Commonwealth Games 1500m runner Richard Peters 66th.