St Mary’s University’s Charlie Grice is preparing for the outdoor season after a disappointing IAAF World Indoor Championships.

The 22-year-old Twickenham-based athlete failed to come through his men’s 1,500m heat in Portland, USA last week coming home fifth in three minutes 49.03 seconds.

Grice, who last month retained his British indoor mantle, admitted his preparations coming to Oregon were not perfect.

“I knew I had to be top three, because the second heat wasn’t going to go that slow,” he said.

“Preparations haven’t been that great, but it’s still no excuse.

“I was trying to stay down the inside, but I didn’t have the legs in the last bit really, it was quite a pushy race”

Grice, who has been training with former St Mary’s University-based athlete Mo Farah prior to the World Indoors, is now expected to compete in a hectic outdoor season with his eyes firmly focused on qualifying for Rio 2016, as well as the European Championships in June.

“I’ve got to keep working hard and peak ready for the summer, that’s the main goal this year,” Grice continued.

“I’ve got a training camp in the USA, race there once or twice and then focus on the trials and Rio.”