TOM Lancashire admitted he underperformed as he crashed out of the European Indoor Championships 3,000m in the heats.

The Bolton Harrier, who has enjoyed a successful cross-country campaign during the winter and who has switched coaches in the last 12 months, finished a disappointing 11th in the second heat in Prague.

He recorded a hugely below-par 8.37.93 minutes to finish way back in 23rd in qualifying, failing to make Saturday's final.

Lancashire, who was representing Great Britain for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years, is targeting a place at this summer’s World Championships and next year's Olympics after suffering a succession of injuries and illnesses.

But after experiencing a tough return to a major championship middle-distance race, the 29-year-old former Turton High School student from Bromley Cross admitted it was back to the drawing board.

“It has been great to know I can make the team again but I'm bitterly disappointed with the performance and I'm in much better shape than that,” he said.

“Outdoors has been the plan all along and I haven't really peaked for this competition; it's just a stepping stone towards the World Championships this summer.

“I haven't done the same work that I would have if I was going into an outdoor event but it's just one of those things.

“It's just a case of bouncing back and I'll sit down with my coach and plan the next few weeks training. I need to learn from this and hopefully improve.”

Lancashire admitted to feeling off-colour in Prague from the word go but was left struggling to explain why his performance was not what he had produced at the British Championships last month.

“I was just totally flat and totally empty, I felt good going into this race but I was totally flat today and I don't know why,” he added.

“I've had a tough week and maybe that drained a bit out of me but that's worse than a bad day and there's something not right there.

“I'm disappointed but I'm probably just a bit drained. I felt all right coming in and felt strong and in good shape.

“I feel in better shape than I was in Birmingham two weeks ago and I ran 7:52 there and I felt in that shape again but I was way off what I can do.

“It's nothing to do with the training, it's just draining and I found it tough.

“It's good to get back on a track senior team again after making them regularly in the past and then having some time out with injury. Coming back is really good.”

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