Andy Baddeley's 'Dream Mile' win in the ExxonMobil Bislett Games recalled the glory days of Steve Ovett and Steve Cram - on an encouraging night for Britain's middle-distance men in Oslo.

While Baddeley's performance topped the bill for the Brits, there is also much for Tom Lancashire to look forward to - as the 1500m man sets his sights on clinching a place in the Norwich Union GB team for the Spar European Cup in a fortnight's time.

The 22-year-old Florida State University student did his ambitions of making his senior international appearance no harm with a fine victory.

Lancashire ran a perfect race and kicked ahead of his rivals off the final bend, taking more than three seconds from his personal best with an Olympic qualifier and a time of three minutes 35.33seconds.

That is the fastest time by a Briton this year, but the Bolton runner - who finishes his studies in the United States in December - will have to sweat until the team is announced on Monday.

"I'd love to run at the European Cup, but they'll probably pick Andy Baddeley," he said of the British number one, a finalist at last year's world championships.

But there could be a compromise.

Baddeley, who ran a time of three minutes 49.38sec, said: "I'd like to run 3000m in Annecy and I'll be asking if I can do that."

Baddeley is the famous race's first British winner since Peter Elliott's success in 1991 and was also following in the footsteps of Ovett and Cram.

"I am proud that I did this here at Bislett," he said.

"For me it was a real 'dream mile'. One lap to go. I felt very strong and said to myself 'this could be my day'.

"When it was 150m to go I was sure. I was sure.

"The time was a good personal best by more than two seconds. It is fantastic, where my favourites Steve Ovett and Steve Cram have done so many big races.

"For me, this is a great night."

Marlon Devonish enhanced his chances of defending his European Cup 200m when his fifth place brought him a time of 20.59secs - the quickest by a Briton this year.

Jo Pavey - eighth in the race which saw Tirunesh Dibaba smash the world 5000m record - achieved the Olympic qualifier, improving her chances of combining that with the 10000m in Beijing.

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