KENT athlete Andy Graffin produced a solid performance on virtually his 5,000m debut for Great Britain at the European Cup Super League in Florence, Italy, on Saturday.

The Tonbridge athlete ran intelligently and bravely to earn fourth place in a race won by Frenchman Ismail Sghyr.

Through fluctuating early pace that took them to 3,000m in 8:22.94, Graffin was always tucked nicely behind the leaders.

He stuck with it as the group dwindled to five through 4,000m (11:10.46), and held on to vastly more experienced rivals after the Russian dropped off the pace.

Only in the last 200m, covered by Sghyr in 26.28 seconds, did Graffin lose hope of a top three finish. Sghyr won in 13:43.70 from Juan Espana (Spain), second in 13:44.68, and former Olympic Champion Dieter Baumann (Germany), third in 13:45.55.

Graffin clocked 13:48.99 and said: "It was hot, but the same for everyone. I was just trying to keep my body temperature as low as possible before the race.

"Tim (Hutchings, his coach) was telling me about 5k's, Allen (his twin brother) was telling me about 5k's and Chris Thompson (in Florence as Team reserve) was telling me about them, too.

"Everything I feared about the 5000m is true, but this was a nice one because it was not a stupid pace.

"I had a bad point at 3k, but I think it was more in my head than anywhere else. On the penultimate lap I hoped to stay with them, but I don't quite have the strength yet. But I would rather be up there and 'die' than not be in contention."