Damen digs in for victory

Louise Damen hung on to claim victory in the McCain World Cross Trials at Birmingham's Cofton Park on Saturday.

Damen, looking to seal a place on the British team for the World Cross Country Championships in Poland later this month, finished the eight kilometre race in 26 minutes 58 seconds, eight seconds ahead of Elle Baker.

The Hampshire athlete said: "I didn't feel good at all today and didn't think I had the legs but luckily I had a little bit of strength at the end to pull me through to hang on."

Frank Tickner won the 12km men's race in 33:54.

Emelia Gorecka warmed up for the World Cross in Bydgoszcz on March 24 by winning the Under-20 race, her seventh Inter-Counties Cross Country title.