Oxfordshire's Lawrence Clarke was encouraged by his third-place finish in the 110m hurdles in the Great City Games in Manchester on Saturday, writes STUART WEIR.

The race, run on a temporary track built in the middle of the city, saw Orlando Ortega, of Cuba, win in 13.32 seconds with Aries Merritt, the 2012 Olympic champion, second in an identical time.

Clarke, from Christmas Common, near Watlington, was third in 13.57, with the 2013 world champion David Oliver falling, before eventually finishing in 22.96.

“I am really pleased,” said Clarke.

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“I wanted to run 13.55 and I ran 13.57 so it was spot-on where I wanted to be.

“I felt I had to hold back a little at the back-end – and you could see why when David went down – because the track is so bouncy and you have to be tactical.

“It bodes well for my next race in Hengelo (on May 24) where the track is a bit harder and I will be a bit fitter and ready to hit the season properly."

He added of the event: “The atmosphere is amazing. I love it here.”