LEE MERRIEN may never run more bravely than he did in front of the Sky Sports cameras in Nottingham on Saturday.

But the pain was worth it as the Guernseyman finished third at the McCains National Inter-Counties Championships and World Cross trials, his best performance yet in the gruelling, lung-busting, stamina sapping world of cross-country.

His prize was not only a bronze medal and the kudos of a rising reputation in UK athletics, but a place in the Great Britain team for the world championships in Jordan on 28 March.

Knowing full well that to finish in the medals would guarantee automatic selection in the six-strong GB team to take on the Kenyan and Ethiopians and alike, Merrien gave it everything and in a long, sprint for home held off the challenge of Tom Lancashire, Phil Nicholls and Keith Gerrard to finish third, just 27sec. behind the winner, Andy Vernon.

Merrien had agony written over his contorted face half-a-mile from the finish, but had the legs and the courage to win the race for the finish line in Wollaton Park.

‘It did hurt a lot. I was trying to suck the line towards me,’ said the runner a couple of hours later.