LEE MERRIEN said his first appearance at the world cross-country championships had been ‘a very positive experience’ despite finishing well short of his target of a top-60 place.

Unwell in the build-up, he refused to blame his sub-par run on that and it was probably more due to an over-conservative start that he finished 91st, fifth of the six British runners in a surprisingly chilly Amman, Jordan.

‘Most of us had a race plan which was to get out respectably quick but not get too carried away and pay for it later in the race.

‘But we didn’t pick off as many as we were expecting.

‘I think we could and should have been a little further up the field.’

Merrien had been off colour virtually from the moment he stepped off the plane in Jordan, four days before the race was held in windy conditions and in chilly 10 to 12 degree temperatures.