Tom Lancashire "very pleased" with improvement as he eyes Rio 2016 spot

Great Britain middle-distance runner Tom Lancashire has set his sights on reaching the Olympic Games in Rio having finally overcome his troublesome injury problems.

The 29-year-old, who won his first Great Britain senior vest at the European Cross Country Championships in Bulgaria earlier this year, is now looking to break into the 5,000m discipline.

While the main target remains making the final cut for the Olympics, Lancashire is also aiming to compete in the World Championships next year.

"Everything is geared towards qualifying for Rio and making the final of the 5,000m, and also to qualify for the World Championships," he told The Bolton News.

"I have run 13 minutes 34 [seconds] and the qualifying time is about 13:20 so I know I am capable of it. And I have been very pleased with my improvement.

"I ran a 10k on the road at Leeds that was fairly tough and I was very happy with my performance. Almost immediately after that I felt I had turned a corner and I have moved on in the last few weeks."

Lancashire has previously competed at London 2012 and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.