Actual real-life athletics returned to St Albans and the youngsters St Albans Athletics Club responded in excellent fashion.

Herts Advertiser: Matt Cooper of St Albans Striders in action during the 2020 St Albans 10K. Picture: TONY BARRMatt Cooper of St Albans Striders in action during the 2020 St Albans 10K. Picture: TONY BARR (Image: Archant)

The St Albans 10k started and finished in Highfield Park with the Alban Way forming much of the route.

Herts Advertiser: Hannah Rayden of St Albans Athletics Club and St Albans Striders in action during the 2020 St Albans 10K. Picture: TONY BARRHannah Rayden of St Albans Athletics Club and St Albans Striders in action during the 2020 St Albans 10K. Picture: TONY BARR (Image: Archant)

In total there around 300 participants with runners adhering to careful plans that enabled social distancing.

Herts Advertiser: Will Bowran (centre) of St Albans Athletics Club and St Albans Striders in action during the 2020 St Albans 10K. Picture: TONY BARRWill Bowran (centre) of St Albans Athletics Club and St Albans Striders in action during the 2020 St Albans 10K. Picture: TONY BARR (Image: Archant)

Runners gathered in large starting pens before setting off in small waves of 10 people at a time.

In a fast field, there were standout performances from Will Bowran and Hannah Rayden.

Bowran was fifth with a personal best of 33 minutes 13 seconds while Rayden was eighth and the first female.

There were also 22 from home club St Albans Striders and the run saw PBs from Matthew Cooper (35:28), Tony Brady-Locke (35:56), Jordan Lister (36:20) and Adam Webster (37:26).

Kate Dixon was the first female Strider and seventh women overall in 44:35.