Entries for this year’s Babcock 10K Series are surging towards 1500 and the first race on Glasgow Green on Sunday 12 May at 10am has a loaded field of Olympians and international runners.

Gateshead’s Calum Johnson is expected to defend his title and the record of 29:45 he set in winning last year’s race. Calum was second British athlete to finish in both the European and World Cross-Country Championships this season and he will be heading to Glasgow after a short-break in Costa Rica. He will face Scottish Cross-Country Champion, Jamie Crowe from Central Region who has a 10K time of 29:19 to his credit, from Tillicoultry in 2019.

Also expected to line up are former Eritrean international, Kidane Tadesse who has a 10,000 metres personal best of 27:06 but that dates back to 2006, the year he finished 6th in the World Junior 5,000 metres on the track.

Natasha Phillips, the defending champion from Dundee has confirmed her participation and she will be hoping to improve upon her Series Record from last year of 32:57. Natasha recently strode to victory in the ‘Fast and Flat’ 5K in the impressive time of 16:16. Meanwhile 2022 winner, Sonia Samuels from Sale has recently won the Nantwich 10K in the East Midlands so will be hoping to push Phillips all the way.

Over 500 hundred club and recreational runners are expected to line up behind the defending champions. Every finisher will receive a unique commemorative medal and a specially designed Babcock 10K beanie hat for cold training nights. Runners will compete for more than £6,000 in cash and Start Fitness equipment vouchers across the series.

Both the Babcock Dumbarton 10K on Thursday 23 May and the Babcock Helensburgh 10K on Thursday 30 May are expected to have over 500 runners taking part. The Dumbarton race hosts the Dunbartonshire AAA 10K Championships whilst Helensburgh includes the Scottish West District Championships.

If you'd like to enter the series, you can do so here.

Image: Babcock 10K