Richard Goodman expressed his satisfaction with his fourth place finish at the British Universities Cross Country Championships in Brighton.

Staying with the leading group until the last 500m, Goodman finished 12 seconds behind winner Jonathan Hay. Goodman won the event last year, with Hay in second place.

"I wasn’t expecting to run well,” said Goodman. “By December, I recognised that I was suffering from fatigue brought on by overtraining.

"I now know that ultra high mileage does not suit me and that my focus should be on quality instead.

"I took some time off over the new year period and resumed training three weeks ago. I now feel in a good position for the National Championships later this month."

Harrow AC pole vault specialist Sophie Dowson, 16, added five centimetres to her personal best by clearing 3.36m in the London Indoor Games at Lee Valley.

Competing for Shaftesbury Barnet in the same competition, George Grant, 16, registered a season’s best vault of 3.86m.