SOUTHEND AC’s Adam Hickey has won his first senior Great Britain call-up.

The 24-year-old has been rewarded for his superb run at the trials for the European Cross-Country Championships with a spot in the nine-man team for the Great Edinburgh Cross-Country on January 5.

The Southend AC athlete finished just missed out on selection for last weekend’s European Championships when he finished eighth in the trial race at Liverpool.

But he received the news this week that he will form part of the GB team that will take on the USA and the best of Europe in a top quality race in Edinburgh’s famous Holyrood Park.

Hickey has made great strides since linking up with former British 10,000m record holder and London Marathon winner Eamonn Martin in February.

He clocked a host of personal bests on the track, from 1,500m to 5,000m and he described his run at the European Cross-Country trials last month as the best of his senior career.

And Martin believes winning his first senior vest is just the start for Hickey.

“It’s great news for him and is a big step forward,” said Martin.

“It shows what I’ve been telling him he’s capable of can be achieved.

“I think he has an outside chance of making the Great Britain team for next year’s World Cross-Country Championships and beyond that I want him to make improvements on the track and I honestly think he has a chance of making the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

“This shows to him he’s on the right track.”

The Great Edinburgh Cross-Country will be screened live on the BBC on January 5.

Meanwhile, Hickey and Martin will travel to northern Spain this weekend for the Venta da Banos cross-country international.

Hickey is part of the England team competing in one of Europe’s most prestigious cross-country races, while Martin is part of the England team management.

l Canvey’s Jessica Judd has also been selected by Great Britain to run in the junior women’s race at the Edinburgh international.

The 17-year-old finished 13th at last weekend’s European Cross-Country Championships, helping her GB team to a gold medal, despite suffering from hypothermia.

If you missed our interview with Judd earlier in the week, read it online at echo-news.co.uk/sport