Southend AC's Adam Hickey gave a clear indication that he's set for another cross-country season to remember with a winning start to the national Reebok Challenge series.

With the first race in Liverpool, Hickey overcame a near disastrous trip in the opening stages, and a group of local youths pestering him with sad and unoriginal taunts of "Run Forrest run", to cover the three kilometre course in 8 mins 46 secs -- six seconds faster than his win in the same under-15 boys race last year.

It was enough to see him to victory by some 13 seconds ahead of fellow Essex athlete Robert Burgess (Woodford Green).

Last year Hickey, who is a star sporting all-rounder at Southend High School for Boys, won the Reebok Series, but lost out to Thurrock Harriers' rival Andrew Livingstone in the Inter-Counties at Nottingham.

He admitted: "I'd like to win the Reebok Series and finish the season by winning the Inter-Counties this time."

The only time his victory was in doubt was the tripping accident with a rival in the first 100 metres which he said: "I almost went flat on my face."

Published Friday October 25, 2002