David Peters, 41, won the British Masters 1,500m title at Derby in commanding style.

Leading the race from start to finish, his time of 4:04.50 was the fastest winning time in the Championships for several years.

Hampstead-based Peters, who runs for Herne Hill Harriers, achieved an identical time four days later in an Open Graded Meeting at Watford.

Peters said: “A slow pace meant that all 16 athletes were bunched together, and I was getting barged, bumped and spiked from all sides. I got tripped twice but managed to keep my balance, but it was more like a fight than a race.”

To conclude a busy week, Peters raced the distance again in the British Athletics League in Hendon. Finishing third, he cut his time to 4:02.85.

Peters said: “It was pleasing as it was my second fastest time of the year, despite the slow pace set for the first three laps.”

Jessica Hurley, 12, came within a fraction of her 800m PB, recording 2:28.18 to place fourth in the Southern Inter-counties Championships. Four days later Hurley made a promising 1,500m debut after recording 5:16.46.