European Cross Country: Olympic pain drives Tom Farrell to success

Cumbria's Tom Farrell says missing out on London 2012 because of injury has "not hampered, but motivated" him.

Farrell ran 13 minutes, 15 seconds for the 5000m last year, over four seconds under Team GB's qualifying standard.

In Serbia this Sunday, the 22-year-old races at the European Cross Country Championships - last year he was fourth on his senior international debut.

"In my mind I'd done the hard bit and run 13.15. It was hugely disappointing but it drove me on," he told BBC Sport.

This weekend's race sees Farrell collect his third Great Britain vest since suffering the stress fracture that scuppered his Olympic hopes.

In the summer he won silver at the 2013 European Under-23 Championships over 5000m.

Despite remaining eligible for that age group, British Athletics have selected him for the senior men's race in Belgrade; as they did last year.

Currently at university in the United States, Farrell missed the trial race for both the 2012 and 2013 European Cross Country.

"Last year I was only given the option of the senior race as the criteria stated they would pick the first six under-23s in the trial and no one else," he explained.

"This year, I was just put in the senior race and I'm fine with that.

"I felt like I was running under no pressure last year. I was bouncing back to running well and by then the injury had motivated rather than hampered me.

"To then win my first individual medal for Great Britain the following summer was an incredibly proud moment, hopefully I can build on that."