KENT athlete Michael Coleman has taken the lead in the Reebok Cross Challenge series after his fourth-place finish in the fourth round at Liverpool on Saturday.

He completed the flat, fast 10k course in 30min 26sec, behind winner Rob Whalley (Bristol and West, 30:10), Kevin Farrow (Derby, 30:18) and Dominic Bannister (Shaftesbury Barnet, 30:20).

None of the first three however, had been higher in the overall rankings than Coleman, who lives in Dover, works in Folkestone and runs for Medway and Maidstone.

He now leads the series with 147 points, just two ahead of Andrew Hennessy, of Wells City Harriers, with John Newsom, of Pitreavie, third on 121.

Points are awarded to the top 50 in each race, the winner collecting 50.

In Liverpool, Andrew Jones, of Salford Harriers, made the early pace, with Farrow taking over on the second lap, and Coleman always in touch.

It was not until the fourth and final lap that Whalley attacked from the back of the leading pack to take the day’s honours.

There are three more rounds to go in the seven-race series, including the final, where double points will be accrued.

The next event is on January 8 on the Stormont Estate in Belfast.