Southampton runner Otis Robinson has given himself the perfect pre-International Race Weekend boost by lowering his one mile lifetime best by just over six seconds to four minutes 43.27 seconds.

Robinson set his new mark in the Millennium Mile road race in Londonderry, New Hampshire, at the weekend.

On a downhill course that gives a slight advantage for runners seeking a fast time, Robinson took 40th place overall in a race with 561 finishers.

The benefit of running on a course with a favourable gradient is thought to add a second or two to runners' flat times, but for Robinson it was a bit more as he took full advantage of the mild conditions of around 53 degrees and set his new time despite being forced to run in training shoes after realising he'd left his 'racing flats' behind.

The first 800 metres of the race was mostly downhill, and after going through 400m in 58 seconds, Robinson crossed the 800m mark in 1.58.

"About 100 or 200 metres later I was totally exhausted and I was struggling with some people starting to pass me," he said.

When lead woman Salome Kosgei, of Kenya, went past, Robinson picked up his effort again and tried to stay with her.

He forced himself through the pain and grogginess of the final few hundred metres to claim third in his race category.

The winner was Abiyot Endale, of Kenya, in 3.58, while first woman Kosgei ran 4.36.

Robinson has qualified for this year's KPMG Invitational Front Street Mile for local men and would appear to be amongst the favourites on the strength of this outing. Robinson said he is considering fitting in an indoor race in the New York area before the Front Street Mile races in the middle of January.