Gunby, the former Peterborough Athletic Club member who has excelled in the triathlon this year, won by two seconds from South African Pumlani Bangani of Salford Harriers.

Crowland journalist Andy Barber, one of two locals in action for Newham and Essex Beagles – John Pike being the other – finished third.

Gunby, who had run for an hour-and-three-quarters on the day before the race, admitted: "I didn't expect to go so well so I was quite surprised.

"I've just had an eight-day break before stepping things up ready for the cross-country season so I was pleased with how I ran."

With £100 on offer for breaking the course record of 32.49 it was an important win for Gunby with both athletes inside the old record.

But Gunby admitted: "I didn't even know about the course record until they announced what it was just before the start.

"But it was impossible to tell whether I was on schedule because the course was so tough.

"It was so up-and-down that one kilometre would take 2.50 and the next 3.20 so I really didn't know I would break it until the closing stages."

While Gunby took 14 seconds off the men's record, there was little doubt the women's mark of 37.52 would fall.

Milton took close to two minutes off the record as she showed the class that saw her become a British international barely a couple of months after taking up the sport.

The Oakham-based athlete, who won last year's Peterborough 5k Series, attends Durham University where she links up for regular training with Gunby.

Stamford Strider Philippa Taylor rarely tastes defeat locally and emulated Milton as Peterborough 5k Series champion this year but she was almost four minutes behind the international on Monday with Nene Valley Harriers teenager Amelia Susulowsky in third.

The fun run saw 15 year-old Werrington Joggers Sam Hunt taking victory.