A RECORD 16 junior athletes from the Scottish Borders have been selected for the East of Scotland at next month's national cross-country championships.

Thousands of athletes from all over the world will converge on Holyrood Park on January 5.

But local hopes will centre of the Scottish Inter-distict championships which compliment the main BUPA Great Edinburgh races.

Neil Renton, athletics development officer for the Borders, this week told the Peeblesshire News: "This reflects well on the work done by the athletics clubs from our region.

"And with Team Borders currently leading in four age groups in the East of Scotland Cross Country League and increased participation in the Borders Cross Country series.

"Cross country is very much on the up."

John McLean, Jacob Adkin and Jack Stanners, all from the Moorfoot club, along with Rowan Marr from Gala Harriers will compete in the boys Under 17 team.

Louise Mercer and Kerry Sandilands from Gala Harriers will be joined by Sophie Collins from Moorfoot in the girls under 17s.

Three Gala Harriers - Nathan Cox, Thomas Otton and Gavin Bryson - are part of the East Under 15s boys along with Kobe Stevens of Moorfoot.

And in the Under 13 Girls Moorfoot trio Zaynah Aziz, Fiona Grant and Mairi Wallace have all been selected.

Gala Harrier duo Andrew Hogg and Jamie Logan both go in the boys Under 13s.