STEEPLECHASER Ieuan Thomas insists he isn’t at the World Championships in London just to make up the numbers.

Pontypool’s Thomas takes to the Olympic Stadium track this morning with the aim of fully embracing his debut on the global stage.

The 27-year-old will be up against it as he pursues a place in Tuesday night’s 3000m steeplechase final, but that isn’t going to stop him giving everything he’s got.

“I’m looking forward to racing against the best in the world,” he said.

“It’s the biggest stage I will have competed on – and I’m not going there just to be a part of it.

“I’m in great shape and I feel I can run faster than ever, and I’m really excited to see how I get on.

“It’s going to be incredibly competitive so I just have to run as hard as I can and put myself in a good position.

“I’m not expected to make the final but I’m going to give it my best shot and see what happens.

“A personal best would be nice but when it comes to championships it’s all about positions rather than times.

“If it’s a slow race but I make the final then I wouldn’t care about not running a personal best, though I probably will have to run one to get through my heat.

“If I can get through my heat then I’ll see what happens in the final.”

He added: “Being a home championships makes it a bit more special as well.

“Whatever happens after this it will be hard to get the same atmosphere again.

“We’ll have such great support around the stadium, everyone is going to want us to succeed.

“It’s up to me to use that extra one per cent the crowd gives the British athletes as best as I can.”

Kenyan runners have won 11 of 15 men’s steeplechase gold medals at the World Championships since the competition began in 1983.

Moses Kiptanui claimed three of those (1991, 1993 and 1995), while Ezekiel Kemboi went one better with four (2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015).

However, it’s American Evan Jager who goes into London with the fastest time of the year so far, some three seconds ahead of Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto, the Olympic champion from Rio.

“Evan Jager is challenging the might of the Kenyans,” said Thomas. “He is incredibly exciting and ranked number one in the world.

“It would be great to race against him as he is someone to look up to in the sport at the moment.

“You’ve also got Kipruto and (Jairus) Birech from Kenya and a couple of good Moroccans who are going to be contesting the medals.

“There are some really quick guys at the top end of the field but a lot of people around 8.20-8.30mins, which is where I am.”

Meanwhile, Thomas paid tribute those who have helped him get to where he is now, including coach and fellow Welshman James Thie.

A former Commonwealth Games and world and European indoor championships 1500m runner, Thie’s expertise has guided Thomas, third at the British Championships in July, to his biggest race yet.

“It’s been a hell of a ride and a lot of people have had an input into my career,” added Thomas.

“I grew up watching James run and now he’s my coach, and I’ve been really lucky to have him and guys like Stuart Stokes and Steve Jones take time out to help me.”