INVERCLYDE runner Jonny Glen has been chosen to run for Great Britain again — this time in China at the World Cross Country Championships at the end of the month.

These championships are the equivalent of the Olympics, which don’t feature cross-country.

Jonny, 18, of Inverclyde Athletic Club (IAC), secured his third GB selection of the season while running for Scotland West at a cross country in Birmingham at the weekend.

He will rub shoulders in China with household names in the British team like Mo Farah, who holds current Olympic, World and European titles.

Jonny, an apprentice electrician, said he was absolutely delighted to be heading to the Far East to run in the five-mile race for the under-20 junior men.

He said: “To make the GB team again for China is like a dream.” And he was congratulated on his selection by British 1,500 metre internationalist Chris O’Hare, above, of Scotland, who met him last summer during a visit to Inverclyde.

Shortly after being seen on TV winning bronze on Sunday at the European indoor championships in Prague, Chris tweeted: “Well done to you. China will be awesome.” Jonny, a 5k and 10k specialist, was crowned under-20 Scottish champion after an impressive showing at the national cross country championships in Falkirk last month.

He won his first international title while representing Scotland in the Celtic Cross Country championships held in Dublin in January.

IAC coach Kenny Morrison said the trip to China will be another vital stage in the young runner’s development.

Kenny said: “Jonny received a lot of advice from Chris O’Hare last summer, and it was great of Chris to tweet his congratulations.

“The entire British team will be together in China, so Jonny will be sharing the same management structure as everyone else.

“This will be tremendous experience. Everyone at IAC is absolutely delighted for him.” Kenny paid tribute to Jonny’s coaches Mark Polland and Ian Cameron for the guidance they have given him.

“There’s a lot of hard work involved,” Kenny said. “Jonny trains six days a week and is dedicated to his running.

“He is yet another IAC youngster who was coached initially by Janice Hendrie in her ‘run, jump, throw’ programme.” Kenny added: “Jonny’s selection for China is the most prestigious recognition that any young athlete locally has achieved in modern times.”