TEESSIDER Jonathan Taylor marked his senior England debut yesterday by finishing 12th and third European in the high-class IAAF Cross de Atapuerca in Burgos, Northern Spain.

The 25-year-old Morpeth Harrier led the England team home, finishing the 9,807m course in 29 mins 7 secs, exactly a minute behind the winner, reigning World Cross Country champion Imane Merga, of Ethiopian, who beat Kenyan Vincent Chepkok, registering the same time, in a sprint finish.

The other England placings were: 38 Dan Studley (Bristol & West) 30.00; 43 Adam Hickey (Southend) 30.06; 75 Peter Huck (Barrow) 31.01.