Hampton-based Benita Johnson led Australia to team bronze in the senior women's 8km race at the IAAF World cross country championships in Edinburgh's Holyrood Park on Sunday before claiming: "In six weeks, I would have been a contender to win.

"We stacked well and had a really good race," added a delighted Johnson, who finshed 11th out of 100 runners and was the first non-African.

"I am thrilled as I was only fifth in our trial.

"Now I can concentrate on my preparations for Beijing."

Although she recently withdrew from the Flora London Marathon on April 13 due to a lack of training brought on by a knee injury, Johnson has not ruled out running the event in the Olympics.

"It will be either the 10,000m or the marathon," said the 28-year-old, an Oceania record-holder in both events.

Johnson, who is coached by Nic Bideau, denied the Aussies' third place was a surprise, but she paid tribute to Bideau's wife, Irish Olympic legend Sonia O'Sullivan, who won long and short-course races in Marrakech in 1998.

O'Sullivan, who lives in East Molesey, was the Australian team manager for this year's championships.

"Sonia's a fantastic inspiration for any team and most countries would give their eye teeth for that."

Johnson's training companion and fellow Australian, Teddington-based Craig Mottram, was unable to take inspiration from her run.

The Commonwealth 5,000m silver medallist was so disappointed with his 31st place in the senior men's 12km race that he walked past reporters at the finish, despite heading the Australian team home.

* Hampton-based Mike Skinner ended his winter season on a high note, finishing second British runner in the senior men's race in 66th, just three places behind Britain's number one cross country runner this winter, Tom Humphries.

Worcester Park-based Belgrave runner Phil Wicks, who took silver behind Humphries in the English national titles at Alton Towers and the World Championships trial race at Nottingham, admitted to being a "little disappointed" with his run.

He was third UK runner after a couple of laps but faded to finish 83rd, sixth and final scorer of the GB team who were 11th.

St Mary's University student Andy Vernon (115th) was seventh British finisher.

* Belgrave's Marty Dent, racing for Australia, was the sixth scoring member of the team, finishing 105th.

* Teddington-based Faye Fullerton was 45th and fifth finisher for the British women, who were sixth and the top team from Europe.