BEN Tickner will be the biggest threat to Tom Russell’s hopes of clinching a hat-trick of victories in the British Milers’ Club Cross Country Championships on Sunday.
Tickner beat Russell recently in the Gwent League and while the Bristol & West AC runner was in the middle of a heavy training period his Wells City Harrier rival followed that up with a swift 14mins 52secs to win the Street 5k to suggest that he has shaken off the injury problems of the summer.
Also among Russell’s rivals over the fast, 4k multi-lap course on Bristol Downs will be Ryan Mcleod, Steve Mitchell, Tom Merson and South West cross country champion Kevin Heywood.
Jon Wills, who prefers good going, will take a closer look at the course before deciding whether to run.
“The BMC event is one of my favourite races and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Russell.
The senior men’s race is certainly shaping up to the be the highlight of the meeting, which is a fitting way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Mike Sully Trophy which in years gone when it was staged at Frys, in Keynsham, has attracted some of the very best runners in the country, including former Olympic champion Steve Ovett.