DAVE Bishop flew back to Chippenham this week after ending his latest spell in America with a superb 1500m in Los Angeles, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

Bishop celebrated his recent 26th birthday with a sparkling 3mins 38.48secs in Los Angeles, the equal fastest time by a UK athlete this year and only a second outside his personal best.

It puts the former Hardenhuish School student in the frame for a place in the British team for the World Championships in Moscow later this year and Bishop is aiming to reinforce his status in Sunday’s inaugural Westminster road mile.

“I was very happy physically as the race didn’t feel that fast, I was just trying to relax in the pack,” he said.

“I was slightly disappointed with my aggression or tactics, as I was feeling full of running at the bell and then I let myself get a bit boxed in so had to wait until the last 100m for my move.

“Still it showed there was a lot more to come, it is my fastest opener ever, and my second fastest time ever.”

Bishop, of Willowbank, is back home sleeping in his altitude tent – courtesy of Scottish Athletics. He added: “Now it is about recovering from the time zone change before the Westminster Mile, then a period of training before attacking the World Championships A standard (3.35.0secs) around the European meets.”

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