Merrien pleased with opening race

Guernsey runner Lee Merrien says he is happy with his eighth-placed finish in the first round of the UK Cross Country Challenge at Gateshead.

Merrien was the sixth British runner over the line in the first of the five-race cross country series.

"It's a good sign that I'm fit and running reasonably well," Merrien told BBC Guernsey.

The next race in two weeks time is in Liverpool and double-up as qualifiers for the European championships.

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