Brewer hopes to improve on his personal best of 3:38.9 in Berlin

Gloucestershire runner James Brewer hopes he can rise to the occasion at the World Athletics Championships.

The 21-year-old who was a late call up for the 1500m after confusion over a split in his mile at Crystal Palace is now focussing on Saturday's heats.

"If you look at rankings I'm probably one of the slowest in the field," Brewer told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"I'm not reading much into that, I'm a championship performer and will go in to each round like it's my final."

He added: "That first round probably the top five or six will go through, so I've just got to make sure that I stay up there in contention with 200 to go and I've got a good finish, so I at least hope I can make it through the first round.

"I know that I can run quicker than I have done so far - my PB was set within a mile race so I know that there's more there."

I've just enjoyed it this year and it's all come together at the right time. James Brewer

Brewer has already tasted glory this year at the European Under 23 Championships in Lithuania.

He won a silver medal there and he believes it has helped him in a number of ways.

"It's been good that I had the under 23s to focus on a little bit as well, I did well bringing back a silver medal and that has lifted my confidence," he said.

"I haven't really been focussed on running the qualifying time, I've just concentrated on racing and trying to win - that's the best way really.

"I've just enjoyed it this year and it's all come together at the right time."

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