BETHAN Francis produced a stunning performance as she smashed her personal best over 10k for the second time in three weeks.

Representing Wiltshire at the South West Inter-Counties Championships, the Avon Valley Runners’ athlete broke 37 minutes for the first time as she clocked 36mins 52secs for fourth place.

The time means Francis, who lives near Bradford-on-Avon, has slashed almost six minutes off her PB from last year to shoot up to 16th in the South West rankings and second fastest in Wiltshire.

“I just wasn’t expecting that at all,” said Francis.

“I didn’t even race that well as I went off too fast and died towards the end. If I had paced myself right, I could have gone faster.

“But overall I am very happy with how it went.”

Francis’ coach Steve Williams believes the 27-year-old has plenty of scope to go faster over the next 12 months.

He said: “Bethan is still learning and needs to become more tactically aware now that she is finding herself at the front of races.

“That will come with experience. I think we have only scratched the surface with Bethan so far.”

Francis also had the satisfaction of leading Wiltshire to third place in the women’s team competition. Second scorer and 13th overall was AVR clubmate Jackie Rocklife, who was just eight seconds outside her PB, but there were further PBs for the Chippenham Harriers pair of Cordula Hurcum and Karen Hacker plus AVR’s Veryan Cranston, who broke 40 minutes for the first time.

Team manager Denise Nott said: "The girls were brilliant and there were some excellent personal bests.

“We were up against two very strong teams from Cornwall and Devon so to win the bronze medals was a fine achievement and I am thrilled with the result.”

Nott, who ran a season’s best herself, had extra cause for celebration as her husband Simon ran a PB to finish fourth in a high quality men’s race.

He said: “It was my first sub 31 minutes and it has been along time coming."

“It is interesting that the time came when I least expected it today. I went to Gloucester with a much more relaxed mindset determined to focus on racing rather than looking at my watch.

“It clearly worked and I am very pleased with that result.”

Behind Nott there were also PBs for Swindon Harriers’ Sergio Martinez and Devizes Running Club's Simon Gilbert, who also finished first V40, but Wiltshire failed to finish among the medals.