DEFENDING champions Morpeth kept their noses in front at the top of Division One of the North-East Harrier League with a clear-cut victory over challenging Durham City Harriers in the fourth fixture at Wrekenton.

The Northumbrians were led home by their new recruit, slow-pack runner Carl Avery, who took full advantage of a five minute start in the handicap event to win by 69 seconds.

But the most eye-catching run came from Teessider Richard Morrell - son of former Great Britain middle-distance star Tony Morrell - who threaded his way through the near-500 strong field, starting from scratch, to finish a superb fifth overall. Morpeth packed their six counters in the first 15 to beat Durham City by 41 points to extend their lead at the top of the table to two points.

Morpeth completed a senior double when Emma Holt, giving away four minutes start to the slower runners, overtook them all to win by 19 seconds, clocking the fastest time and beating fellow fast-pack runner Tracy Millmore by nearly a minute-and-a-half.

Senior Men: 1 C Avery (Morpeth, Slow Pack +5 mins) 33 mins 51 secs; 2 M Hallissey (Ponteland, SP) 35.00; 3 K Russell (Low Fell, SP) 35.08. Fastest times: 1 R Morrell (Morp) 32.05; 2 D Jenkin (Durham City) 32.24; 3 B Douglas (Dur C) 32.31.

Teams - Div 1: 1 Morpeth 54 pts; 2 Durham City 95; 3 Tyne Bridge 114. Div 2: 1 Heaton 76; 2 Crook 137; 3 Alnwick 182. Div 3: 1 Newcastle University 42; 2 Blackhill 68; 3 Gosforth 169.

Senior Women: 1 E Holt (Morpeth, Fast Pack scr) 28.32; 2 N Woodward (Aurora, SP +4 mins) 28.51; 3 G Bradley (Saltwell, SP) 29.05. Fastest Times: 1 E Holt 24.32; 2 T Millmore (Birtley) 25.57; 3 E Leslie (Jarrow & Hebburn) 26.02.

Teams - Div 1: 1 Gateshead 16; 2 Tynedale 29; 3 Heaton 30. Div 2: 1 Newcastle University 26; 2 Birtley 29; 3 Crook 46.

Gateshead's Olympic Games 1500m international Ross Murray finished fifth in the Great Britain Indoor Championships 3,000m in Sheffield in a time of 8 mins 7.83 secs - 11 seconds behind the winner, Aldershot's Andy Vernon (7:56.84).

Shildon's Scottish junior cross country champion Cameron Boyek was fourth in his 1500m heat in a time of 3 mins 56.16 secs.

Teessider Richard Kilty ran a new personal-best 6.53 secs finishing third in the British Indoor Championships 60m at Sheffield. He was credited with exactly the same time as second-placed Dwain Chambers behind the winner, Croydon's James Dasaolu (6.50 secs).