Nick Miller set his sights on an injury-free run towards the defence of his Commonwealth Games title after finishing sixth at the Olympics.

The Cumbrian Team GB athlete produced a throw of 78.15m in the hammer final in Tokyo.

It was not enough to put the Scotby star into medal contention. But Miller was sanguine about the outcome having overcome injury in recent months before competing in Japan.

And Carlisle-born Miller, 28, can now set his sights on next year’s Commonwealth Games on home soil in Birmingham.

“It’s not been a great year with injuries,” he said after Wednesday’s final. “All things considered, it [sixth] is not a bad result.

"We’ve definitely figured a few things out this year. My training’s good, me and Tore [Gustafsson, coach] have a good relationship, and next year I’ll just try and stay healthy all the way.”

Miller made a good start to Wednesday’s final before being overtaken by eventual winner, Poland’s Wojciech Nowicki.

The Border Harrier saved his best throw until last, producing a season’s best performance. But it would have required a new personal best from the British record holder to put him in the medal running.

Miller had mixed emotions about the outcome in Tokyo.

Speaking to the BBC after the final, he said: “I’m kind of disappointed. I couldn’t quite find the rhythm. The last throw felt good and then I got a little cramp. Sixth place – that’s what it is.

“We had a great preparation coming into this. I was in good shape – it just didn’t happen.”