LAWRENCE Clarke insisted he could take some positives despite bowing out of the World Athletics Championship yesterday, writes STUART WEIR.

The 110m hurdler, who comes from Christmas Common near Watlington, finished seventh in his heat in 13.53secs.

He was well beaten by France’s Dimitri Bascou, who recorded 13.16, with world champion David Oliver second in 13.17.

“I was out of the blocks fast and just trying to stay with Oliver,” Clarke said.

“I was with him to hurdle five or six but then he proved his worth.

“I think I must have run the first five hurdles faster than I have ever run them, but I put so much into it that I burned up.

“I ended up hitting the last hurdle, but I would not have made it. However, that I can stay with the world champion to the fifth hurdle is a real positive.”

He added: “It was disappointing, but the 2016 Olympics are the most important thing for me and going into next year with the memory of what happened in London (when he finished fourth) gives me hope.

“I need to go away and do the hard work and hopefully come back a bit better.”