ATHLETICS: Bruce can claim title (From Bicester Advertiser)

ATHLETICS: Bruce can claim title

11:00am Thursday 31st January 2013 in Sport By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

DAVID Bruce can seal the men’s title in the Oxford Mail Cross Country League with a round to spare on Sunday.

Oxford City’s Bruce needs to finish in the top three at Swindon in round four to ensure no other athlete can surpass him.

Bruce has collected two wins and a second place from the series so far, with runners’ best four performances counting.

His nearest rival, Josh Entwistle (Oxford Brookes) has two thirds and a fifth place.

A top-three finish on Sunday would give Bruce a maximum of seven points, which Entwistle could not beat.

The ladies’ event looks to be a three-way contest between Jo Emery (Cirencester) and Headington RoadRunners pair Rachel Hallam and Jess Leitch.

Emery has five points, thanks to a win in round two and a fourth place at Horspath.

Hallam and Leitch both have seven points, but have been beaten by Emery both times she has raced them.

The course is in Swindon’s Lawns Park, which also hosted the league in 2011.