 It was only Turnbull's second race of the summer |
Belfast athlete Gareth Turnbull had to be content with a clocking of 3.43 for 1500 metres when he made his return to action in Watford on Wednesday night. Turnbull finished second at the British Milers Club meeting behind Blackheath's Mike Skinner.
The Belfastman is making a late season attempt to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next March.
"I was very rusty and the pace was a couple of seconds slower over the first two laps than I needed," said Turnbull.
The former World University Games silver medallist needs to better 3:40 to have a chance of being picked for the Northern Ireland team.
Turnbull has spent the summer trying to get himself fit again after being unable to train in the winter and spring because of an Achilles injury.
His only race this summer was a 5000m outing at the Northern Ireland Championships in June.
Turnbull may run in the Welsh Games next Monday and is also scheduled to run in another British Milers Club meeting two days later.
The Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council has decreed that only seven track and field athletes will be picked for Melbourne next March.
At the moment six athletes have achieved Commonwealth Games standards. They are James McIlroy (800m), Zoe Brown (pole vault), Eva Massey (shot), Ben Houghton (javelin), Michael Allen (javelin) and Brendan McConville (Decathlon).
Other athletes who could also challenge for selection include Kelly Reid (1500m), Anna Boyle (100m), Paul McKee (400m) and Paul Brizzel (200m).
MMIX
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