WITH the European Cross Country Championship trial now just over a week away, Southend AC international Adam Hickey has shown top form.

For Southend High School for Boys' student Hickey, 17, produced the fastest time of the day in the junior men's race at the Saucony English Cross-Country Relay Championships to lead the seasiders squad home to fifth team spot.

Southend stood in 19th place after David Crichton's opening 9mins 25secs over the three kilometre course, while Mark Bailey lifted them four places to 15th with 9:27.

Hickey's effort of 8:39 was a superb run and he will be hoping to continue in that kind of form at the European trials on November 26.