Representing Leeds University, Adam is hoping the win will propel him to an England vest.

He said: “The race was very very tactical and slow, we went through the first 3km in 9.36 and there was a lot of pushing going on or should I say I got pushed a lot!

“With 14 laps to go I had had enough of this so put a little surge in and broke the field up into only 8 runners in the lead group. By lap 12 there were just three of us as others drifted from the pack. I kept upping the tempo which was still relaxed for me which meant by lap eight it was down to me and Jonathan Thewlis of Nottingham University, last year’s silver medallist with a pb of 29.59.

“I decided I had done enough work and eased back allowing Thewlis to reluctantly take the lead which incurred him constantly checking his shoulder for the five laps I let him lead.

“With three laps to go I put the foot down and did not stop. It hurt and he stayed right on me and with 400m to go I was in a lot of pain, but I went again and the pace was too much for him as I came home clear by 80 yards/seven seconds to win in a relatively slow time of 30.57.

“This is a personal best for me but I am very aware based on my performance last weekend at the National 12 Stage Relays that I am capable of 29.30.

“At this point demonstrating how tactical the race was and how important it is to be able to judge pacing and how to employ fast surges to overcome other opponents.”