TOM MORTIMER earned his first GB cross country cap as his team pipped the USA to finish runners-up to Europe.

Running at the picturesque Holyrood Park, including a climb up the base of the mountain known as Arthurs Seat in Edinburgh, Mortimer, 19, was the second GB runner home, finishing in sixth-place overall.

The Stroud AC runner nosed ahead of the chasing group over the last three laps before breaking away to chase the lead group. He nearly caught Mario Garcia of Europe in a tense sprint finish for fifth-place.

Mortimer’s coach, Chris Brown said: “This race will have done him a power of good as he seeks full-fitness, and he will be a much improved athlete as we progress to the peak of the cross country season.

“The second-half of the race was particularly tough and the fact that Tom rallied and was closing on the leaders is a sign he is not too far from his best form.”

GB U20 team finishing positions; Matthew Willis (Wrexham) 3rd, Tom Mortimer (Stroud) 6th , Jake Hayward (Cardiff) 7th, Hugh Stadler (Bristol) 14th , Lachlan Wellington (Plymouth) 16th , Ricky Lutakome (London) 18th Mortimer jets-off to Seville in Spain on Thursday to represent England , before returning to run for Stroud and District AC at the Midland Counties Cross Country Championships in Nottingham on January 27 alongside team-mate and Welsh U20 star Jack Turner, who will strengthen the Stroud U20 men’s team who recently were victorious in the Gloucestershire Championships.