In-form Jonny Taylor is king of the roads again as he scorches to a big win in Brighton

In-form Jonny Taylor is targeting some “significant PBs” this summer after another superb display on the roads.

Just three weeks after storming to victory in an exhibition in solo front-running at the Thirsk 10 mile, 27-year-old Taylor ran away from a stacked domestic field to win the Brighton 10k.

The Morpeth Harrier is hitting form at the right time.

After enduring the frustration of an injury that led to a below-par showing in the World Cross Country Championship trials in Birmingham, he’s back to his very best with the track season just around the corner.

And although Taylor’s rapid winning time on the south coast of 29.13 took him to the top of the UK rankings in 2015, the Middlesbrough-based athlete believes he’s capable of breaking the 29 minute barrier when he toes the line at the notoriously fast Greater Manchester 10k next month.

Another impressive display there would set him up perfectly for the summer season on the track, where Taylor is looking to revise his personal bests and wants to knock on the door of 13:30 for 5,000 metres.

“I was really pleased with the win in Brighton,” Taylor told the Gazette.

“There was a group of us until around 5 or 6k and then I pushed it on and broke it up a bit.

“To be honest, I thought we were on for a faster time but I felt comfortable. If I had a bit more confidence I would have gone earlier.

“Obviously with it being such a strong field it was just good to get the win, hopefully I’ll go faster in Manchester.”

Jonny Taylor on his way to winning the Thirsk 10 mile last month

Taylor admits it’s been an “up and down” winter, the frustration of a niggling knee injury forcing him out of the race he’d targeted all season, but he’s bounced back in excellent fashion.

“It was frustrating to pick up an injury at that stage of the season, it probably cost me a place at the World Championships,” he said, reflecting on the winter.

“But I think I’m in a good place now to go on and hopefully set some significant PBs this summer.”

Meanwhile, Taylor’s training partner Richard Morrell, from Hartlepool, anchored Morpeth Harriers to National 12-stage glory in Birmingham last weekend.

Stockton athlete Andrew Wiles ran a superb long leg to take Morpeth into pole position, helping the Tyneside club to national 12-stage glory for the first time in their history.