NYLE Clinton returned to action with an encouraging performance in the latest Oxfordshire Cross Country League event, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 20-year-old Swindon Harrier, from Middleleaze, was racing for the first time in four months following a knee injury but showed he is now fully recovered with a hard-earned second place at Horspath.

“It was my first proper race since a 1500m on the track in Watford at the end of August,” said Clinton.

“I had a muscle imbalance in my leg, which was pulling my knee cap out of place, but that is fine now. I have been training OK and done some good sessions in the past few weeks, so I was expecting to run well.”

Nonetheless, racing is a significant step up from training so it was no surprise that on the first or two laps, Clinton struggled for pace and was back in fifth place.

“I was way behind the guy in second at that point but then I started to work my way through the field and finished strongly,” added Clinton. “It was a nice boost to the confidence and now I have to push on."

Clinton will face a far sterner test at the Cardiff Cross Challenge a week on Sunday before representing Wiltshire at the Inter-Counties Championships in Birmingham.

“I am using these races to build up my strength as my main focus now this year is the track season,” said Clinton.

The former Greendown School student will be looking for another good season on the track, having run personal bests at 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and the 3000m steeplechase in 2015.

That sort of form helped him secure a two-year scholarship to study for an MBA in Business Administration at Bradley College, near Chicago and he will be heading to America in August.

Clinton wasn’t the only successful Harrier at Horspath.

Will Crisp raced to victory in the under 17 men’s race while Ben McIntyre was third in the under 15s, with Ethan Pierce, Sashwa Chana and Max Adams all making the top twenty.

Rookie Samuel Rai took the honours in the under 9s race, with Harriett Hillman runner-up in the under 9 girls’ age group.

Swindon had a strong presence in the under 15 girls’ age group, with Sophia Bonnetti, Chloe Hayward, Anna Curtis and Dara Kelly all making the top 25.