MIKE WILSMORE is chasing down the clock as he bids to be fit in time to defend his track title at the British Universities and College Sports (BUCS) Indoor Athletics Championships this weekend.

Plymouth's Wilsmore virtually shredded the skin on his foot after losing a running shoe and consequently an outside chance of a 1,500m World Championship qualifying time at Sheffield 10 days ago.

Wilsmore, who had led the field until the pain became unbearable, completed the heat but in so doing gave himself a 'do-it-yourself skin graft'.

City of Plymouth undergraduate Wilsmore had claimed the 1,500m crown last year and had been hoping to round off his indoor season with a second success in students showpiece at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport.

And that could still be the happy ending that Wilsmore has been working towards, but his chances have hardly been helped by 'going for broke' at the Aviva World Indoor Athletics Trials and UK Championship.

Other than his 'very sore foot' recovering in time, the only other real obstacle to Wilsmore's ambition is Ulster University student Daniel Mooney, who beat the 26-year-old Plymothian in a recent McCain City Challenge 1,500m.

Wilsmore, who won bronze, said he will consider the tactics to overcome the latter – Mooney took gold – once he knows he can test his injured foot without wincing.

He said: "My foot wasn't a pretty sight afterwards but I had to finish the race in order to lodge an appeal as I felt I'd been impeded.

"It was a waste of time really, though, as it was adjudged that I hadn't been (impeded) and then how would I have been able to run in the semi-final anyway, given the state of my toes and sole?

"But, it was a matter of principle for me and now I'm just waiting to see if I can repair the damage in time for the BUCS race."

Wilsmore prevailed at Sheffield last year in a time of just over 3 minutes and 57 seconds which preceded an outdoor season wrecked by what turned out to be an ankle injury.

The former Royal Marine's personal best at 1,500m indoors is 3.47.20 set – where else? – at Sheffield in a BMC event on January 8.

Another of Plymouth's promising young athletes, who is also a city university student, Sam Peters will be looking to continue his fine form into the two-day BUCS showpiece.

Erme Valley Harrier Peters clocked a season's best time of (49.84secs) in a hotly-contested 400m at the UK champs and world trials.

Peters, who is coached by the Paul Batten, came fifth in his heat at the championships but definitely staked a claim to be a contender for a podium place when next he visits Sheffield.

Twenty-one-year-old Peters has a 47.83secs PB over 400m and picked up victories at a Cardiff Grand Prix in January and at the Birmingham Championships earlier this month.