GB reserve slot

VICKY Gill has been named as first reserve for the Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team for the Spar European Cross Country Championships.

The Chorley Harrier flew home from her Florida base for the Trial at Parliament Hill Fields, London on Saturday but failed to make the team by just two seconds after a dreadful start to the race.

Gill was still going through her warm-up routine as the other runners were lining up, and she had to tag on to the end of the line instead of the centre with the other favourites.

"I spent the whole race trying to catch up," she said afterwards.

"But I was running well and nobody overtook me, while I was picking off those in front one by one."

She made it through to sixth place, and there are six places in the team, but as Jo Pavey was pre-selected Gill just misses out on the trip to Heringsdorf, Germany on Sunday, December 12.

Fellow Lancastrian Helen Clitheroe will be on the plane though after the Preston Harrier finished second to Hayley Yelling.

Gill says she will continue her training as if she is going to Germany, and as she can vouch first hand there are often injuries in the sport.

Having completed her studies in America, she is now planning to be home until January, and although she is undecided about her long term future, she expects to split her time between here and America where she can enjoy training in the 'Sunshine State'. She hasn't yet decided whether she will resume her medical studies at St Andrews University.

This weekend she will be racing against Paula Radcliffe in the Nike 10K in London, and then she will contest the Reebok Cross Challenge round at Liverpool.

East Lancashire athletes can race against her there as the fixture incorporates a round of the Mid Lancs League.

Before she returns to the States, she is hoping to run in the Lancashire Championships at Blackburn in January.