LEE MERRIEN is still on the mend after injury but the island could still bring home a county cross-country title this weekend.

GIAAC are despatching one of its largest ever teams to the Saucony Hampshire Championships and if they need a positive omen, it comes via the thought that the last time the championships were staged at Fleming Park, just two years ago, both Louise Perrio and Steve Dawes won their respective individual titles.

Both those runners head to Hampshire in top condition, but the field is expected to be strong and very big.

For unknown reasons, county athletics officials report the largest entry for the traditional early January event since 2003.

Paul Ingrouille, the overall team manager, is confident but at the same time guarded in the knowledge that Hampshire possesses some of the sport’s biggest names in terms of national distance running.