It was Viner’s first win in a league whose every race attracts hundreds of competitors from London and the Home Counties. By contrast, Goodman’s Metropolitan outing simply maintained a long winning streak.

“Wormwood Scrubs is a flat course and the ground was not too muddy, so I realised it would be a fast start,” Viner reported. “I kept to my plan of sitting in the lead group for the first third of the six-kilometre race before taking the lead. I stretched out further with two kilometres to go and had the speed and strength to reach the line first.

“It’s a nice confidence booster for the British Universities Championships next month.”

A niggling injury had meant that Goodman was unsure about entering the 8km race. “I picked up a hamstring strain a few weeks ago and lost training and fitness,” he said.

“I only decided to run five minutes before the start, and wanted to run conservatively. So I sat in with the lead group and only pushed the pace over the final kilometre. I was challenged in a sprint finish over the last 100 metres, for my closest-ever win.”

Eden Davis, 18, placed fourth in the South of England indoor under-20 60m championships at Lee Valley.

His time of 6.86 was his third personal best of the day, having improved through the heats and semi-final.

“It couldn’t have been a better start to the year,” Davis commented. “I feel strong and ready for the season ahead.”

Idan Gal-Shohet, 17, took fourth place in the long jump at the South of England U20 championships, setting an indoor personal best of 6.57m.

“I didn’t have enough speed on the runway,” admitted Gal-Shohet, “and the performance didn’t really reflect my current form in training. I do believe everything will come together soon.”