The 24-year-old from West Linton faced some of the world’s best cross-country runners in the 4,000 metres international race.

Despite crossing the finishing line in 10th, O’Hare remained upbeat ahead of his crack at the European Indoor Championships.

He said: “O’Hare said: “The conditions made it tough out there – look at Bernard Legat, he was behind me.

“Cross country is cross country. It’s not going to stop him racing insanely fast on the track this summer and it’s not going to stop me.” Chris returned to his Boston base on Sunday and is due to return to these shores next month for the indoor Birmingham Grand Prix where he will compete over his favoured 1500 metres.

Saturday’s Great Edinburgh Cross Country was won by USA’s Garrett Heath.

There were medals for several other Borders athletes in the supporting Inter Distric Championships.

Dianne Lauder from Gala Harriers produced a fantastic run to finish fifth behind East of Scotland team-mate Morag McLarty in the senior women’s race to claim team gold.

The 38-year-old clocked an impressive 24.28 to finish just over a minute behind the winner.

Gala’s Kirstin Maxwell produced a tremendous run to finish on the heels of Charlotte Morgan in 17th with a time of 25.07. But the teenager narrowly missed out on an East team podium place.

There was a team bronze medal in the senior women’s race for Scout Adkin who finished 19th in 25.17, to act as one of the counters for the Scottish Students team which finished third.

But Hawick’s Louise Mercer, also running for the Scottish Students, ran below par to finish in 50th.

Lauder’s Adam Craig ran well to cross the line in 28th in the senior men’s race with a time of 29.21.

But he narrowly missed out on a top six counter place to earn a spot on the podium.

Kelso’s Darrell Hastie, who competes for Gala Harriers, also ran well for the East of Scotland team to finish 38th with a time of exactly 30 minutes.

Liverpool’s Daniel Cliffe won the senior men’s race with a time of 27.13.

Thomas Otton from Gala Harriers continued his impressive recent form by finishing eighth in the Under 17/20s race to help the East of Scotland team to gold. The 16-year-old clocked 22.29.

But his team-mate, Gavin Bryson, was unfortunate to miss out as a counter by one place with his impressive run to claim 18th overall with a time of 23.18.

Beth Hobbs from the Peebles-based Moorfoots earned a silver medal in the Under 13 Girls race by finishing 20th overall - and sixth counter for the East of Scotland team.

In a race which was dominated by the West of Scotland runners, Charlotte Clare from the Moorfoots finished 23rd, Rhiannon Fagan of Gala Harriers was 30th, and Moorfoot Elena McGorum was 34th.

Chirnside’s Josh Abbot crossed the Under 13 Boys finishing line in 13th to help his East of Scotland team to silver.

And Jamie Logan of Gala Harriers also earned a team silver by finishing 17th in the Boys Under 15 race.

Susannah Godfrey-Faussett ran well to finish 10th in the Girls Under 15s race, but with the East team dominating the top places she just missed out on a team gold.

To complete a memorable day for Borders athletics 10-year-old Gregor Collins from Galashiels produced a great run to earn individual silver in his age category of the Great Edinburgh Winter Junior Run.