BRIGHTON’S Charlie Grice did all he could at the European Championships tonight but just missed out on a medal as he finished fifth in a memorable 1,500m final.

Ahead of the race Phoenix AC's Grice was ranked as the sixth fastest European of 2018 and stayed in the hunt for gold right up until the final 50 metres, eventually finishing with a time of 3:38.65.

The final had been billed as Great Britain versus Norway, with Grice, Chris O’Hare and Jake Wightman facing off against the three Ingebrigtsen brothers, but it was the Norwegians who celebrated loudest as Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran away with the victory.

Wightman took bronze while O’Hare finished ninth, and Grice was pleased with his effort in a race that kept everyone guessing and the whole of the Olympiastadion on their feet.

“I got myself in the right position and really gave it my best shot,” said Grice.

“The last 20 metres I just tied up a little bit – you just shouldn’t give anyone an inch, but it’s nice to be back at the forefront of these races.

“Last year it wasn’t for the lack of trying but maybe I was pushing too hard, whereas this year I’ve gone back to what I was doing before.”

Grice had qualified for today's final with the third best time overall (3:40.80) but the 24-year-old was always in for a tough battle against a classy field – with even European champion Filip Ingebrigtsen only managing 12th.

In 2014 the Brighton athlete fell twice in the final and finished 12th, and at just 24 is showing excellent potential for medal success in future.

Horsham-based thrower Jade Lally is in action in Berlin on Saturday, she came through qualifying on Thursday and attempts to win a medal for Britain in the women’s discus final.

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