PIERS Copeland clocked the winning time as top UK athletes ran a virtual one-mile time trial to commemorate the 66th anniversary of Roger Bannister’s breakthrough world record 3:59.4.

The coronavirus pandemic has ruled out any head-to-head competition nationally until at least the end of June, but the British Milers’ Club collated global positioning system results after more than 1,000 athletes completed solo runs.

Wimborne AC star Copeland had set a track best of 3:56.05 in the London Olympic Stadium last July, but breaking the four-minute barrier on his own proved just too much.

Nevertheless, he ran superbly, missing out by just two seconds along the Ham Lane Cycleway between Longham and Canford Bottom.

This gave Copeland a four-second advantage over Welsh Commonwealth Games 1,500m runner Tom Marshall.

Bournemouth AC’s Oscar Ewen Matthews was the fastest under-13 boy in the trial with 4:47.

Josh Smith clocked 4:29 for Poole AC, with Mark Ruby just 10 seconds slower.

Wimborne AC’s Madeleine Johnson posted 5:15. Poole AC duo Heidi Taylor and Emily Parker each set 5:24, with Fern Kimber of Poole Runners on 5:31. Wimborne’s Emily Shaw ran 5:33.