On Friday night he bounced back to something like his best form when he "nished third in a fast race at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas, clocking a time of 7.43.30.

This was some nine seconds faster than he ran in his previous indoor race this season in Boston last month when he "nished a well-beaten fourth in 7:52.67.

Friday's race was won by Canadian 1,500 m record holder, Kevin Sullivan, in 7:40.17, edging a great last lap duel with Matt Tegenkamp (7:40.25) of the USA. The other Irish runner, Mark Carroll, was "fth in 7:52.07.

Gareth Turnbull "nished sixth in the mile on Friday night in 4:02.47, a few seconds slower than the 3:58.88 he ran in New York last week. The race was won by Mark Fountain in 3:55.58. Turnbull is targeting the 3,000 m in Birmingham and should be much more effective over the longer distance.