FINISHING sixth in a World Championships is no mean achievement but Phil Wylie won’t be happy until he has made the medal rostrum, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The Bradford on Avon athlete managed the best performance of his career in Nancy, France, at the weekend, eclipsing his eighth at the Worlds in Spain and seventh in the European Championships, last year.

Wylie, a sports co-ordinator for Trowbridge schools, is still improving but as far as he is concerned, not quickly enough.

He said: “Because of my illness problems which forced me to miss the trials I wasn’t sure where I would finish so I have to be pleased with sixth.

“But at the same time my goal was to win a medal. OK, I’m getting closer and sixth is better than eighth and I’m not unhappy but, at the back of my mind, I’m not quite there yet.”

The five who finished ahead of him are all full-time athletes, but Wylie is convinced that he can still succeed doing it his way.

“I’m fighting against these guys who are full-time professionals but that’s not the be-all and end-all and I still feel I can get to that next level of running low 29 minutes for 10k,” he added.

“I’ve already improved my cycling this year and now I have to work hard this winter to carve 20-30 seconds off my 10k time. I believe that’s possible and that will give a better chance of winning a medal.”

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