TOM Lancashire believes the rebirth of British middle distance running will not be complete until the medals start rolling in.

Lisa Dobriskey and Jenny Meadows provided tangible evidence of Britain’s emerging quality at 1500m and 800m last year when they won silver and bronze, respectively, at the World Championships.

Meadows followed up with a silver at the World Indoor Championships this year and hopes are high there could be more medals to come at the European Championships in Barcelona which get under way on July 27.

Britain has the full complement of three competitors in the men’s and ladies’ 1500m, and three in the ladies’ 800m, with Michael Rimmer going it alone for the country in the men’s 800m.

And it is testament to the strength in depth of British middle distance running at the moment that they all harbour realistic hopes of making the final, if not winning medals.

Bolton star Lancashire is ranked second in Europe this year at 1500m, marginally behind his team-mate Andy Baddeley, while the third member of that team, Colin McCourt, signalled his ability to win tactical races with his blistering sprint finish when he won the European Team Championships earlier in the summer.

Dobriskey will be joined by Hannah England, another with a big sprint in her armoury, and young powerhouse Stephanie Twell in the women’s 1500m, while Meadows has Marilyn Okoro and Jemma Simpson alongside her in the 800m team.

Lancashire, who ran an impressive season’s best 3min 34.87secs at the recent Diamond League meeting in Gateshead, is encouraged by the steady improvement at middle distance in the country, but says it will not be time to get excited until the rest of the Brits follow the lead of Dobriskey and Meadows onto the medal podium.

“Middle distance running is getting there in this country,” said the 25-year-old.

“Lisa Dobriskey and Jenny Meadows have both won medals on the world stage which is a massive step.

“Myself, Michael Rimmer, Andy Baddeley and Hannah England would not be ranked as shoo-ins for medals, but we are all moving in the right direction.

“It’s a realistic target to say we could have three people in the finals of the men’s and women’s competitions.

“That’s what we’ve got to be aiming for and then take it a step further and go for medals.”