A tremendous performance from Basildon Athletic Club's Rob Smith has earned him an international call-up.

Smith, 17, who has only recently reached the age to run as an under-20 junior man, has been named in the five-man Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland line-up for the European Cross-Country Championships in Malmo, Sweden, next month.

Smith, who lives in Billericay, earned his spot by finishing a superb fifth in the under-20 junior men's race at the latest round of the Reebok Challenge in Margate - a competition which was used as trials for the European date.

To prepare for the trip to Sweden, where Britain defend their title, on December 10, Smith is competing for the Southern Counties in Belgium this weekend.

He faced gruelling wet conditions in Margate but Smith finished in a time of 18 mins. 48 secs.

There were some outstanding performances from other local athletes in Kent.

Southend Athletic Club's Adam Hickey won the under-13 boys' race in a time of 10 minutes dead, with clubmate David Crichton ninth in 10.53.

If they had had other runners from the club in their age group Southend could well have figured high in the team honours.

Hickey, not surpisingly, kept up his winning form on Wednesday by taking year eight victory for Southend High in the Borough Schools' boys championships at Garon Park.

The under-15 boys saw Southend AC's Ashley Humphreys, who figures in this week's national rankings at 1,500 and 3,000m level, finish tenth in 15.01.

Another outstanding Southend showing was in the under-17 men where James Hinds finished in a great third place in 12.52.

The girls played their part for Southend as well. In the under-15s, Kristina Marshall led the way against top-class opposition with 24th place with a time of 11.55.

Southend's main backing came from Sarah Jeffrey, 49th in 12.46.

Winning ways - Adam Hickey was first across the line in the under-13 boys' race

By Dick Marshall

Reporter's e-mail: dick.marshall@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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