CENTRAL ATHLETICS runner Andrew Butchart is fast emerging as one to watch this summer – with the Rio-hopeful putting in another personal best performance to clinch the Vitality London 10,000 title on Monday.

Just a week after breaking Nat Muir’s 36-year-old 5,000m Scottish national record at the FBK Games in Holland – bagging a second Olympic qualifying standard in the process – Butchart was again on form, this time in the English capital, as he clocked a lifetime best of 28 minutes and 28 seconds.

The race on Bank Holiday Monday – which started on The Mall and finished in front of Buckingham Palace – also doubled up as the British 10km Championships.

And after comfortably beating defending champion and fellow Rio hopeful Andy Vernon into second place, Central Athletic Club runner Butchart admitted he couldn’t be happier with his current form.

“I am really chuffed with that, it’s my first British title so I am over the moon to get that out of the way,” he said.

“I didn’t know how the race was going to go. There are a lot of good athletes in the race but I know I’m fit and in good shape.

“I guess I just felt comfortable so I thought I may as well kick on a bit and it was a matter of if someone came and they didn’t.

“I think the Vitality London 10,000 is one of the best 10Ks in the country right now and they are lucky they get the 10,000m British Championships at that as well.

“The course is flat, people are watching you at every single corner.

“I exceeded my expectations, I’m really happy with how I’m running at the minute.”

Butchart’s hopes for Rio lay in the shorter 5,000m distance with a top two finish at the British Athletics Championships from June 24-26 booking his spot on the plane to Brazil.

And, after his athletics interest was first spiked back as a 16-year-old after doing a few cross-country races at high school, the Scot is well aware that his Olympic dream is within touching distance.

“I am running really well,” he added. “There are a few more things to come this year as everyone knows and I have got to make sure I do what I can to get on that plane and perform well in Rio.

“There are lots of guys that can get there as well so we’ll see what happens.

“I have a time. Top two at the trials and I get to go but there are four other athletes with a time so it is going to be tricky.

“It would mean everything. This whole year has been aimed at just that so that is the aim and fingers crossed.”

The Vitality London 10,000 takes place on an iconic course past some of London’s most iconic landmarks and is for everyone from fun runners to club and elite athletes with more than 10,000 runners taking to the streets of the capital. For more information, visit www.vitalitylondon10000.co.uk