WILL BATTERSHILL produced an impressive run at the National Cross Country Championships at Donington Park on Saturday.
Competing in the men’s under-20 category, Great Britain youth international Battershill, who had only turned 18 two days earlier, finished seventh in a strong field.
The Erme Valley Harrier is in his first year competing at junior men’s level and he was the first of last season’s under-17s home at Donington.
Battershill had finished 12th at the lower age group last year, but this time beat all his 2015 rivals, including Southampton’s Mahamed Mahamed.
Mahamed had won the under-17s last year, but had to make do with 10th at the higher age.
Aldershot’s 19-year-old Ellis Cross won on Saturday, with his team-mate Gus Cockle second and Tonbridge’s Chris Olley third.
Ivybridge Community College pupil Battershill will be hoping he can reproduce Saturday’s form next weekend when he makes his final appearance at the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships.
Meanwhile, City of Plymouth’s Poppy Tank had to settle for 21st in the under-20 women’s event at Donington in a race won by Warrington’s Harriet Knowles-Jones.
Tank, though, will also be eyeing success at the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships in Nottingham. Last year she finished fourth in the senior girls’ race.