IWAN THOMAS was left to reflect on the "weirdest race I've ever had" after failing to win the Loughborough International 400m.
In high winds, the former European and Commonwealth Champion almost walked over the finishing line.
Thomas, who quit his Southampton base last year to move to Loughborough, was clocked at 48.03 seconds - a time that would have barely ranked him in the UK's top 50 last summer.
The Welshman was passed in the last couple of strides by 19-year-old Robert Tobin (British Students), who won in 48secs.
Three runners had gone faster in an earlier guest race - Inter-Counties champion Conrad Williams (Kent AC, 47.30secs), Scotland's Ian Mackie (Pitreavie AAC, 47.50secs) and Phil Makomana (Zimbabwe, 47.99secs).
Thomas, who now heads for a race in Riga on Thursday, said: "It was the weirdest race I've ever had. I honestly cannot describe what happened.
"It was windy but it shouldn't have been that bad.
"I have never run that slow. It's not a reflection of where I'm at."
In the 300om steeplechase, 19-year-old Kathryn Frost from the Isle of Wight was third and lowered the UK junior record to 10:43.88 as a result.
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