NYLE Clinton made an impressive debut over 5,000m at the British Milers’ Club Grand Prix in Solihull.

The 20-year-old Swindon Harrier, from Middleleaze, has been concentrating on 1,500m and the steeplechase this season but looked like he was heading for a surprise victory in his first attempt at the distance until Leicester’s Ben Dijkstra unleashed a fierce sprint off the final bend.

However, Clinton was rewarded with second place in the B race after clocking a time of 14 minutes 31.89 seconds, which immediately put him ninth in the South West rankings.

“I am really pleased with that,” said Clinton.

“I have to really thank my training partner, Ben Cole, as he pushed on the pace in the fourth kilometre after the pacemaker dropped out.

“Without him I don’t think I would have run so fast. It was tough but I enjoyed it and will definitely have another go sometime but probably not until next season now.”

It means Clinton has now recorded personal bests at every distance this summer. In the 1,500m he has improved to 3:53.1, which puts him 15th in the South West and in the 3,000m steeplechase he recorded 9:23.25 - the fifth best in the region.

That adds up to a very good summer for the former Greendown School student and sends him into the winter full of confidence.

In the 5,000m, Cole hung on to finish third in 14:33.75, which sliced almost five seconds off his personal best.

MEANWHILE in Belgium, 16-year-old Swindon Harrier Abby Miles finished eighth in the long jump at the 51st Flanders Cup in Antwerp.

Miles, who was representing the South West, cleared 5.02m, which was well below her best this season of 5.36m.