Two time Olympic medallist Nick Willis says he has a smile on his face despite finishing outside of the medals in the final of the 1500m at the world athletic champs in London.
Willis finished eighth in the event which was won by Kenya's Elijah Manangoi.
The 34-year-old Wilils was chasing his first world championships medal.
NIck Willis at the world athletic champs in London. Photo: Photosport
At his five previous world championships, he made the semifinals in 2005, was 10th in 2007, 12th in 2011, a semifinalist in 2013 and was sixth in Beijing two years ago.
Kenyan Asbel Kiprop had been chasing a fourth straight world 1500m title but finished ninth - passed by Willis on the home straight.
Willis had a disrupted buildup to the event hampered by shin splints meaning a delayed start to his season and going into the world champs on the back of only a couple of months of serious training.
Willis said after the first lap he thought it was going to be a tactical race.
"But then they took off after 400m and really dragged it out there so I just listened to my body and tried to do the most that I could....and I was pretty proud of my performance after a pretty limited buildup.
"Those guys were just too good today, but eighth in the world is pretty good and I have got a smile on my face.
"I mean you always have a glimmer of hope that the unthinkable might happen there's been so many surprises and upsets that you don't want to rule out that possibility but once the race ended up being a fast race it took luck out of it but that was my best run this season and I can't ask for more than that."
Willis said the result has also confirmed his intention to compete in both the 1500m and 5000m at next year's Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
"Today's result makes me really excited that off very limited training.... I can still finish eighth in the world and with the Commonwealth Games half of those guys won't be there."
Asbel Kiprop Photo: Photosport
Willis said he feels one hundred percent healthy and will now launch into some "super endurance training" and see what he can achieve over 5000m as the Commonwealth Games schedule allows for being able to run both the 5,000m and 1500m.
"Exciting too that Asbel Kiprop says he is going to give the 5k at the Games a go, so that should be fun to have him and I in the 5k at the start of the Games and it will also help keep me motivated in training."
