BOLTON'S steeplechase hero Stuart Stokes has set his sights on a European Championship medal after pulling off the race of his life on Saturday.

Stokes thrilled the packed City of Manchester Stadium as he smashed his personal best time by some seven seconds to take fourth place and almost pulled off the shock of the Commonwealth Games.

The Kenyan trio of Stephen Cherono, Ezkiel Kemboi and Abraham Cherono predictably wrapped up the medals after dominating the race, but not before Stokes put them under pressure with a rousing final two laps which decimated their lead and had the vociferous home crowd in raptures.

Now he has excitedly turned his attentions to the rest of the summer's showcase events and reckons he has as good a chance as any of securing a podium finish at the Europeans.

"I'm hoping I'm selected for the European Championships, although I haven't heard anything yet. I've also got another Grand Prix meeting on August 18 and the World Cup in September to look forward to," he said.

"I will be out for a new personal best time in all of those as well. I'm in the best shape of my life so I'm just trying to make the most of it.

"8mins 26secs puts me in the top ten in Europe and you have to be confident going into any championships on that form. I've just got to go for it."

With the Kenyans setting off at a blistering pace, the race was always going to be split into two packs and Stokes positioned himself perfectly on the shoulder of fourth-placed Canadian Joel Bourgeois, before finally making his kick for glory just over two laps from home.

Sensing a possible upset, the St George waving throngs found their voice and raised the roof as their new English hero took huge chunks out of the lead, closing a near half-lap advantage to around 50 metres by the finish.

Even Stokes himself at one point believed he could catch them and write his name in sporting folklore.

"The last few laps were incredible. I could sense the Kenyans were messing about a bit and when the crowd noticed I was gaining on them they really picked up and inspired me," he said.

"Down the back straight I knew I was gaining on them. I knew they were taking it easy but if one of them made a mistake like hitting a barrier, I could have been in there. So, harsh as it sounds, that was what I was praying for.

"I knew it was quite quick because I saw my time at the bell and I was seven seconds faster than I had ever been at that point before. So I knew I could get a PB if I hung in there.

"It was an absolutely unbelievable atmosphere. The athletes who have experienced it before warned me not to underestimate the effect the crowd would have on my performance and they were right."