BRADFORD on Avon runner Alex Carter is back in Britain – and ready to get racing seriously again, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The former England Schools international graduated from Ioana University, America in the summer and is now working for an American company in London after initial training in Dallas, Texas.

Carter went Stateside on a four-year sports scholarship package but sadly his athletics ambitions were thwarted by recurring leg problems that eventually led to operations on both feet.

But for the past six months he has been running steadily and on the evidence of a low-key Parkrun and his return to Team Bath colours in the Midland Counties Road Relay Championships the worst is now behind him and Carter is on the comeback trail.

“I first got injured in 2014 and seem to have been perennially injured since then,” said Carter.

“I had surgery on both feet and while I am not in pain nay longer it feels like I am learning to run all over again because I am adapting to how it feels.

“I probably had enjoyed six months of steady running but haven’t done any sessions at all so I was really surprised when I came out and ran 15mins 50secs for a Parkrun in London because I really didn’t think I was in that sort of shape.

“That run gave me some motivation to get going again so I decided to run the relays for Team Bath while I was back home in Wiltshire for the weekend.”

The 22-year-old former St Laurence School student was handed stage two in Saturday’s race and lifted Team Bath from 31st to 19th clocking his team’s fastest time of the day.

With further solid runs coming from the Hilperton brothers John and Robert Howorth, plus Themis Bower from Marshfield, Team Bath eventually finished 21st place to secure one of the 25 automatic places for the National Road Relay Championships a week on Saturday.

“I wasn’t expecting too much but I am very happy with that time and performance,” added Carter.

“I know I will get faster once I start doing some sessions.”

As for his four years in America while it was a disappointment on the athletics front Carter has no regrets whatsoever about accepting the scholarship.

“I had a great time in America and it would definitely not have been the same experience had I stayed in Britain,” he explained.

“From my time at Iona I also now have friends all over the world and have enjoyed so many different experiences.

“And I have to keep reminding myself that I am still only 22 so I have plenty of time to get running and racing again. I certainly haven’t given up on just yet!”

Midland Counties Road Relay Championships, Sutton Park, Birmingham - senior men: 1 Birchfield Harriers 1:48:01; 2 Tipton Harriers 1:49.51; 3 Cheltenham & County Harriers 1:50:2. 21 Team Bath AC 2:00:45 (Daniel Jones (31) 19:29, Alex Carter (19) 19:13, Aaron Pritchard (16) 19:44, John Howorth (22) 20:40, Themis Bower (22) 20:46, Robert Howorth (21) 20:53).

Fastest: 1 Kadar Abdullah (Birch) 17:41. Total number of complete teams 105

RACING the Simplyhealth Great Bristol Half Marathon Michael Towler, of Avon Valley Runners, came away with a stunning personal best time of 70mins 28secs for ninth place.

That time smashed his previous best of 72:51 set three years ago over the same course and puts Towler ninth in the South West rankings - and number one position in Wiltshire for 2018.