CHESTER-LE-STREET AC's Michael Openshaw ran the race of his life to finish second and lead the North-East team to victory in the AAA and Inter Counties 10K Championships at Bradford.

The Durham City finance officer shrugged off the disappointment of not gaining the 5000m qualifying time for the Olympic Games after finishing runner-up in the trial.

In a top-class field he followed home the brilliant Kenyan, Julius Kimtai, who won the £1,000 first prize.

Openshaw, chasing runaway leader Kimtai with a group of four, made his own break at seven kilometres and was gaining on the African at the finish.

Kimtai, who is based in Coventry and runs for Tipton Harriers, clocked 29 mins 6 secs to win the AAA Championship, while Openshaw, who was only seven second in arrears, took the Inter Counties title.

Openshaw said: "It doesn't make up for missing out on the Olympics but I am delighted with my performance."

The former Inter Counties mile track champion suffered the additional frustration of seeing Kris Bowditch, who finished seventh in the trial, selected for Sydney on the strength of an earlier Olympic qualifying run.

Openshaw is to take a three-week break then start his preparations for a bid to qualify for next summer's World Championships in Canada.

The supporting members of the victorious North-East team were former national cross country champion Dominic Bannister, who finished 11th in 29.54, Terry Wall, 27th (30.32), Brian Rushworth 36th (30.46) and Daniel Flint 44th (31.13).

Kimtai, who will be defending his title in the second Auckland Castle 10K in October, ran the fastest 10K in Britain this year when he clocked 28 mins 23 secs in Cardiff on September 3.

l Gateshead Harriers are celebrating a promotion "double". The women's team has gained a place in the British Women's League after winning their qualifying match at Cannock, while the men move up into Division One of the Northern Men's League after topping their promotion match.