MATTHEW DIXON'S hopes of glory in the European Junior Championships 1500m were dashed when he was tripped on the final bend.

The 18-year-old from Great Harwood lay in third spot and was poised to unleash his customary kick-finish.

But the collision destroyed his rhythm and he finished in sixth place which left him bitterly disappointed.

"I didn't go down but I just couldn't get back into the race," he said.

"It was a race that was left to the last lap and I didn't have the luck in it.

"I'm disappointed not to have claimed a medal but happy with the way I ran the race.

"It was just one of those things I have to put down to experience."

His time of 3mins 49.4secs was more than five seconds slower than his personal best 3:44.

However, after the pedestrian opening lap, even though the second half of the race developed into a sprint for home, the winner and pre-race favourite, Gert Jan Liefers of Holland, only managed 3:46.9.

It was not the time, then, which disappointed Matt, but the sheer bad luck which ruined his chances.

That will change, and this 18-year-old schoolboy from Great Harwood is obviously ready to take his place with the elite and he knows now, by experience, that he will have nothing to fear among them.

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