STEVE Way admitted he was stunned to set a new 100km British road record in winning the National 100k at Gravesend on Saturday.

The Bournemouth Athletic Club member, 39, stormed to victory in 6:19:19, an impressive feat given that it was only the second time he had competed over the distance.

Having finished as the third Brit in the London Marathon three weeks ago – where he clocked a personal best of 2:16.27 – the Sturminster Marshall-based athlete had not anticipated another scintillating performance.

He told the Daily Echo: “Up a week ago, the prospect of going out at British record pace wasn’t top of my agenda.

“I wasn’t expecting to recover quite as well as I did because I PBd at the London Marathon, so I assumed I’d be racing for the win and wouldn’t be going for anything particularly spectacular.

“But it turned out my legs recovered really well from London, so a couple of days before the event I knew my fitness was as good as it had ever been.

“Since I did my first 100k in Stockholm last year I’ve had my eye on the British road record but I was expecting it to come a bit later rather than in my second 100k.

“It all seemed to click into place and came together rather nicely.”

Way’s time put him in pole position to earn selection for the 100km World Championships, which are due to take place in Doha, Qatar in November.

Also competing in Gravesend was Way’s clubmate Jon Sharkey, an 100k debutant. Sharkey finished sixth as he dipped just under the seven-and-a-half hour mark.