IN-FORM team-mates Will Crisp and Ciaran Cooper will go head-to-head in the Wiltshire Cross Country Championships tomorrow.

The Swindon Harriers runners, who often train together under coach Bryan Clinton, are both entered for the under 20 men’s race, which will be held at Bath University as part of the Tri-Counties event also featuring Avon and Somerset.

“It should be an interesting one but I think on the country Will will have the edge,” said Clinton.

The pair head there on the back of good performances in the latest Oxford Cross Country League fixture. Crisp, who only celebrated his 16th birthday at the end of last month, ran away with the under 17 men’s race at Culham Park last weekend to extend his unbeaten start to the league this winter.

Competing in the senior men’s race, 18-year-old Cooper had his best-ever result in 19th to finish leading Harrier ahead of Tom Hemming (26th), Andrew Fulford (39th) and Oliver Webb (62nd).

“You have to remember that Ciaran is an 800m runner so cross country is a very long way for him,” added Clinton.

“That was his best run at the standard for a long time and shows that his attitude is spot-on and his strength is good, both of which are encouraging signs ahead of the indoor season when he will be back on the track.

“It was very encouraging.”

Crisp may also race indoors but in addition has one eye on the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships. Those twin aims present a headache for the coach but Clinton will be doing his utmost to deliver Crisp in top form for both different disciplines.

Ethan Pierce will be racing at Bath University and the 15-year-old will be hoping to build upon his solid eighth place behind Crisp in the under 17 men’s race at Culham Park, just ahead of 13-year-old Ben McIntyre, while 14-year-old Elliot Doughty was 17th.

In the under 13 boys’ race, leading Harrier was 13-year-old Joseph Knibb in ninth.

Representing Highworth Running Club, 15-year-old Chloe Crippen was ninth in the under 17 women’s race and the Swindon pair of Chloe Hayward and Sophia Bonnetti finished 11th and 14th respectively in the under 15s.

Georgina Ribbius, Amelia Mulroney, Anna Curtis and Dara Kelly also took part for the Harriers.

In the under 13 girls’ race, Swindon’s 13-year-old Rachel Oram finished 21st just behind Anna Kane of Marlborough & District AC, while the Harriers’ trio of Ayla Tonkin, Lavinia Rai and Katie Loach also made the top 35.

Last but not least rookie Harriet Hillman ran excellently to finish runner-up in the under 11 girls’ race, with team-mates Lauren Pawson and Isabel Imeson finishing 13th and 14th respectively.