DEBUTANT ELLIOT Bowker admitted to having mixed feelings after running for Great Britain for the first time at the World cross country championships on Saturday.

The Vale Royal Athletics Club member was 72nd in the junior men’s race at Guiyang, in China, and third counter for a six-strong British team.

He completed an 8km course in a time of 26:55.

“I’m slightly disappointed,” said the 18-year-old afterwards.

“The conditions didn’t help; we’re not used to racing at altitude and that got the better of me.

“But you’ve got to take it on the chin.

“I’ve had a great week, and it’s been a great atmosphere within the Great Britain team.”

Bowker was the 13th fastest European in the field, finishing ahead of Spaniard Jordi Torrents who classified seventh in the junior men’s race at the European cross country championships in December.

The Sir John Deane’s College student was selected by Great Britain to compete in Bulgaria, only for an injury to leave him watching the action on a snow-bound course from the sidelines.

He added: “To be able to come here, compete and finish the race as third counter for the British team was far more enjoyable than Bulgaria.

“It’s been a great experience, and I’ve loved every minute.”

Bowker, a silver-medallist in the under 20s men’s 3,000m final at last year’s English Schools’ Championships, turns his attention now to the forthcoming track season.

And beyond that, another crack at the European cross country championships.

He said: “I’m going to use China as a building block for the next cross country campaign, and hopefully I’ll make the Europeans again at the end of the year.

“I’m also focused on the track, and making the British team for the European under 20s championships for the 10,000m and possibly the 5,000m.”

Alex George was the first Briton to reach the finish in Guiyang, taking 39th place.

At the front, Ethiopian Yasin Haji won a sprint to the line ahead of Geoffrey Korir (Kenya).

Kenyan Alfred Ngeno claimed a bronze medal to help his country take the collective title ahead of Ethiopia.

Eritrea were third, while Great Britain’s junior men followed in 13th to make them the second highest-ranked European team behind Italy.