Two young athletes are to appear for their country after outstanding performances in the English Schools Cross-Country Championships at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, on Saturday.

Over 2,000 of the most outstanding young runners in the country took part in the six races and both Southend Athletic Club's Adam Hickey and Andrew Livingstone (Thurrock Harriers) earned the right to be part of the English Schools team which contests the home internationals in Derby on March 23.

Both were competing in the junior boys event where Hickey, a pupil at Southend High School, and Livingstone finished second and third respectively and helped Essex to the team gold with 64 points, the top total of the day.

Individual victory in the race went to Lawrence Cox (Hants). He finished in 14 mins. 41 secs -- six seconds clear of Hickey and nine ahead of Livingstone.

It is the second time in a few weeks that Hickey has been pipped for individual honours in a major event. He lost out to Livingstone in the Inter-Counties Championship.

Essex enjoyed a good day while hosting the English Schools competition - which was cancelled at Hylands Park last year due to the foot and mouth outbreak.

They also captured gold in the senior girls and were runners-up at intermediate level. The girls were also second in their section of the aggregate team event.

Published Monday, March 11, 2002