Matthew Stonier is out to make the most of a funding boost.

The promising middle-distance runner, from Sturry near Canterbury, has been nominated to join the UK Athletics Olympic World-Class Programme for the 2022/23 season. He is up for Olympic Confirmation Level funding.

Stonier told KentOnline: “It’s one of those where you always look at the people on funding and think they’re getting that extra support that you want to get. Now I’m on it, I need to make the most of it.

“People are always a bit envious of those at the top because it’s supposedly easier to stay up the top as you’re getting that extra help so it’s important, having been given that opportunity, I make the most of it.”

It’s a fitting reward for the 21-year-old after an impressive breakthrough summer which saw his rapid rise culminate in seventh in the 1,500m race at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and a fifth-placed finish at the European Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany.

“It’s great,” he added.

“It’s amazing to be kind of recognised for the season I’ve had and to be put on the top programme - obviously on the third level of that - but it’s nice to be among some of the top athletes.

“Hopefully that’ll help me improve even further next year and, maybe, onwards.”

The Loughborough University student is, however, not yet entirely certain how the support will impact on his day-to-day life as an athlete.

He explained: “I think we have an induction day coming up shortly to learn a bit more about it. It’ll just help medically, not that - touch wood - I’ll be injured or anything, but it’ll help with physio and with doctors if I need scans.

“It just helps provide that quick help. To be honest, the top athletes really need that in order to, basically, be able to train as much as they can.

“I’m not sure too much beyond that, I think there are financial benefits but, there again, not everyone gets them.

“I’m a bit unaware of all the ins and outs but it’s quite exciting and I’m sure I’ll find out a bit more in the future.”

For now, though, he’s back hard at work.

He said: “It’s pretty much just into the full swing of winter training.

“It’s pretty hard - more mileage, longer sessions and more time in the rain! It’s quite hardcore but it’s rewarding as well.

“I feel like, at this time of year, you can feel yourself getting better. By the time I came back from the track season at the start of October, I was feeling pretty unfit and, all of a sudden, you are getting that fitness back again.

"It’s an interesting time of year.”

No plans have yet been confirmed but Stonier - who last December ran at the European Cross-Country Championships in Fingal, Dublin, and may feature at the same event again this December in Turin, Italy - hopes to train off British soil at some stage this winter before his 2023 summer campaign gets under way.

He didn’t rule out a debut indoor outing, either.

He said: “I have never done an indoor race before so it’ll be interesting to see if I do one and how it goes.

“I do like cross-country and that’s what kind of keeps me going over the winter. If the chance arises, I’ll hopefully head to South Africa again over Christmas and maybe do some altitude training over there. It’s what all the top athletes do and, obviously, it’s proven that it’s supposed to help.

“So I’m going to try and get some altitude in, in South Africa over Christmas or January time - but that’s still a work in progress.”

While Invicta East Kent AC’s Stonier is up for Olympic Confirmation Level support, other categories for individual UK Athletics funding through the programme are Olympic Podium and Olympic Podium Potential.

Nominations to get World-Class programme membership is subject to UK Sport ratification and a signed agreement between the athlete and UKA.