BOLTON athlete Tom Lancashire finished sixth in the final of the World Junior Championships 1,500m on Thursday night.
The Bolton Harrier, who claimed silver in the European Junior Championships 12 months ago, suffered at the hands of the latest era of hugely talented African runners.
Lancashire, from Bromley Cross, finished second in his semi-final two days earlier, but the strength of the Africans proved too great for him to claim world medal in Grosseto, Italy.
He broke his personal best in the semi when he ran 3mins 42.48secs and he ran another fast time of 3:43.31 in the final.
But he was way behind the winner Abdelati Iguider who finished in an incredible time of 3:35.53.
The Moroccan claimed a championship record with the time and he led four more African runners across the line.
Florida State University-based Lancashire, the first non-African home, said: "I am nowhere near fulfilling my potential and I am learning all the time.
"I know I have to work harder and my goals are long term. I have to believe they can be beaten."
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