Athlete Keith Gerrard became the first Manxman to run a sub-30 minute 10 kilometres, while competing at the British Milers Club Elite Meeting at Watford on Saturday evening.

The event, which doubled up as the trial for the Olympic 10,000 meters, boasted one of the strongest fields to contest a 10k in the UK this year.

Gerrard, who recently broke the Manx 5k record as well, ran a perfectly paced race to take 25 seconds off the existing 10k mark.

It'd stood for 34 years, after being set by Dave Cowell while representing the Isle of Man at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Manx Sports Aid recipient finished in 14th place in 29.39.72 which brings him to within 10 seconds of the standard set by the Isle of Man Athletics Association for a 2010 Commonwealth Games nomination.

Surender Singh (India) took first place in a time of 28.22.79. followed by Antony
Ford (Lancashire) in 28.30.39.

There was also excellent runs by 2006 Isle of Man Easter Festival winner James Walsh (Leeds City) who came 5th in 29.19.42 and Island Games Gold Medallist Lee Merrien (Guernsey) who finished in 9th position in 29.23.05.