Cumbrian hammer thrower Nick Miller is targeting qualification for this year’s IAAF World Championships in London.

Miller, from Scotby, Carlisle, competed in his first meet of the season last Saturday at the Stanford Invitational in California and won the event in style.

Miller’s plan was to not push himself too hard as he eased back into competitive action. He was also aware the hammer circle at the track was quite slippy, so he wanted to be cautious.

But a promising season-opener saw the 23-year-old come away with the victory after a throw of 75.58m, which also placed him number one in the UK rankings. The distance put Miller seventh in Europe, as well.

“This is a good start,” the Cumbrian said. “It boosts my confidence after last year when things didn’t go well for me.

“I’m back in good form with training going well.

"It puts me in a good place to work towards qualification for the World Championships in London later this year, sending out a strong message that I’m back and one to watch again.”

Miller, who struggled towards the end of last season after a back injury, was involved in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

But he missed out on qualification for the final of the event, only managing a throw of 70.83m as he came 22nd, with the top 12 progressing to the final.

Miller will be looking to replicate the kind of form he showed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which won him a silver medal, as he looks to qualify and then challenge at the IAAF World Championships in August.