Commonwealth 1,500 metres champion Michael East insists his outdoor season could not have got off to a better start than it did in Tuesday night's Notturna di Milano Grand Prix meeting.

East ran a personal best of three minutes 36.28 seconds, and shrugged off the fact he finished only seventh in an overcrowded 18-man metric mile race, unexpectedly won by Ivan Hesko.

The unknown Ukrainian sliced nearly five seconds off his previous best, winning in a national record of 3:33.67.

Well behind, East was finishing just as quickly as the winner, but admitted his legs found it difficult racing for the first time outdoors over 1,500m.

Now the 25-year-old Pompey star believes the best is yet to come, claiming lowering his previous best by over a second shows his hard winter training programme has paid dividends.

East said: "This was my first race of the year and I haven't yet done any 1500m training.

"If it had been two more down the road, I know you would have seen something even better."

East firmly believes he needs to get more races on the Grand Prix circuit, adamant their fierce competitiveness and tactics are something he must learn quickly.

Scheduled next to race in the Ostrava Super Grand Prix meeting on June 12, East said: "I am still getting used to running at this level. Most of my 1500m have been in domestic competitions.

"It was tough out there and we didn't get the pace we were promised. Considering the size of the field with 18 runners, I think I came out of it pretty well.

"I was constantly having to think of what pace I was running as they were not calling out lap times.

"I was having to be careful in case I was tripped with there being so many in the field.

"It is all still new to me and very much a learning curve, but I will get there - everything I have done this year tells me that.

"But the main thing is I finished strongly. I felt really good towards the end. Honestly, I didn't think I would be running so quickly."

Still shy of the qualifying standard for the IAAF World Championships in August, East said: "It still is very early days but I know 3:34 will come.

"What is important is being in top shape for the AAA Championships and trials, which are still six or seven weeks away.

"Already I am confident about qualifying for Paris," said East.

Ireland's James Nolan also put up a plucky show crossing the line in 3:37.81 for 11th position.