WORCESTER runner James Dale hopes to leave his opponents trailing this year.

The Nunnery Wood High School year 10 pupil trains twice a week with Worcester Athletic Club.

Dale also represents his school and Herefordshire and Worcestershire in cross-country.

He turned out for the West Midlands in the London mini-marathon after being one of the region's top six runners to qualify in Stourport for the under 15s contest.

The event covered the last three miles of the London Marathon route and Dale clocked 16 minutes 50 seconds to come third for the region.

He finished 92nd out of 242 boys in his age category.