Andrew Lemoncello believes he is now ready to step up in distance after finishing as the top Brit at the World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham.

The Scot, a former national steeplechase champion, finished 26th in a one hour, three minutes and three seconds personal best, although he did run quicker in a downhill half marathon earlier this year.

He will now reset his training focus on next year’s London Marathon, with the European Championships in Barcelona next August his longer-term target.

“It’s an official PB, which is great, but the time wasn’t my focus, it was about performance,” he said.

“It was good – the last couple of miles were tough. It was hillier than I thought.

“If I can run 63 on a course like that I think I can confidently go through half way at London Marathon in 65.”