White Horse 5k Road Race Series (Race 4)
JOSH LILLY of Severn AC grabbed the glory in the County Championship 5K at the White Horse, a race he won as a teenager in 2005.
It was his best display yet after his return to racing early this month following a 10-month injury break.
After a couple of minor successes, he faced his first major challenge in the high quality open race.
"I wanted to keep the title with Severn as my club-mate, Tim Dalton, last year's winner, was on holiday," he said.
Lilly made no attempt to force the pace, preferring the attritional effect of quick running to produce a positive result.
The tactic worked and with a mile to go only the brothers Mark and Lewis Hobbs from Swansea were left.
Lewis dropped back and then Mark was disposed of with 600m to go as Lilly made his effort and opened a gap which grew to 20m at the end.
Lilly said: "I was satisfied, being only 12 seconds slower than my PB.
Hopefully I'm over my injury and can focus on the cross-country season."
After the Hobbs brothers, triathlete Dave Roper was second county runner in fourth.
National veterans 5,000 metre champion Gary Hope (Severn) stayed off the early pace, then made up places as the leading group split up.
He won the veterans' prize and county title in eighth with a new Severn veterans' record.
Lilly and Hope led the resurgent Severn distance team to their third successive team victory after a two-year losing run.
Simon Fortnam (16th) just missed his season's best, while 17-year-old Gareth Howells (21st) was in the scorers for the second time and Andy Hawkins (28th) continued with his best season. The team was completed by newcomer James Rose in 30th.
A high class ladies' event was closely contested, as Under-20 Emily Meredith (Hereford) just held off 16-year-old Stephanie Lane (Bourton) The county's most improved young distance runner set a new Under-17 course record.
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