Cross country runners and indoor athletes battle for January prize

THE start of a new year brings new hopes and high expectations and many of our young athletes will certainly be very happy with how 2012 has progressed so far.

The January short list for the Easy Runner athlete of the month, supported by the Evening Post and adidas, offers an intriguing selection from the quite disparate worlds of cross country running and indoor athletics.

The two branches of the sport could hardly be more different, but both in their own way are very traditional; January marks the start of the serious action for cross country, while the indoor scene offers track and field athletes an opportunity to see just how well their winter training has been progressing – or not.

It makes for an interesting short list for our judges as they decide who deserves a pair of adizero shoes from Bristol's leading athletics retailer. The results will be revealed in next Saturday's Evening Post.

THEO CAMPBELL: The 20-year-old Bristol & West AC athlete scorched to a personal best of 7.01secs to win the 60m at the Midland Counties Indoor open meeting, eclipsing his previous best of 7.17secs. The Paul Weston-coached athlete was also runner-up in the triple jump – his main event – with 15.01m, his first time over 15 metres indoors and only 10cms off his outdoor best set last year.

ELLIE LEATHER: Representing Avon, the 13-year-old Westbury Harrier coached by Jason Michael finished fifth in the Under-13 girls' race at the South West Cross Country Championships. She then improved to win the silver medal in the junior girls' race at the Avon Schools' Championships held in Bath.

JAMES SKELTON: In his first year in the Under-17 men's age group, the 15-year-old Westbury Harrier achieved a career-best eighth at the Midland Counties Cross Country Championships last weekend.

SARA FLOWER: Representing Avon, she finished sixth in the Under-13 girls' race at the South West Cross Country Championships. The North Somerset AC youngster was then runner-up in the minor girls' race at the Avon Schools' Championships before switching to the indoors to win a bronze medal in the Under-13 girls' 800m at the Welsh Championships in Cardiff, in which she also smashed her PB.

DAVID WARNES: The North Somerset AC youngster won the junior boys' title at the Avon Schools' Cross Country Championships.

EMILY WRIGHT: The 13-year-old Yate & District AC youngster set a superb new championships record of 5.30m to win the Under-15 girls' long jump at the Welsh Indoor Championships. The jump also added six centimetres to her lifetime best.

HUGH SADLER: The Bristol Grammar School youngster raced to victory in the minor boys' race at the Avon Schools' Championships and then finished the month on a high by leading the Bristol & West AC Under-13 boys' squad to the team silver medals at the Midland Championships.

ROSIE ALLEN: The Castle School pupil makes her first appearance in the Easy Runner competition and deservedly so after racing to an excellent victory in the minor girls' race at the Avon Schools' Championships.

LUKE GRENFELL-SHAW: Finished a fine third in a high quality senior boys' race at the Avon Schools' Championships, followed by 23rd in the Under-20 men's race at the Midlands. Ended the month by claiming second place in the Bridge Inn 5k road race.

JOANNA TAYLOR: The 15-year-old won her first county medal with third place in the inter girls' race at the at the Avon Schools' Championships and followed up with 15th spot in the Under-17 women's race at the Midland Championships.