Athletics: Damen faces struggle to gain selection

Louise Damen finished eighth in the Cross Internacional de Italica, then admitted that winning a place in this year's British team for the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships will be very difficult.

Damen, who was returning to action after missing last month's European Championships through illness and injury, experienced how tough it will be after finishing 37 seconds behind the winner Merima Denboba, who finished the 6.6-kilometre course in 21min and 43sec. "It's going to be much harder being selected this year," Damen said. "Last year I just walked into the team."

Chris Thompson finished 16th in the men's race behind the winner, Kenenisa Bekele. Dominic Bannister was 18th.