The annual Watford Grand Prix saw a host of runners descend on Woodside for an event which produced some memorable individual displays.

Alexandra Bell was surely the standout performer as she put in an excellent display to break the two minute mark for the first time in the women’s 800m.

She left her rivals trailing as she chased down the pacemaker to record a time of 1.59.93 and clock a personal best in the process.

The Pudsey and Bramley club member was left to reflect on a run which saw her stick to a gameplan before battling hard at the close of the race to get over the line.

“I had a plan and that was to stick with the pacemaker because I knew from my training I was in good shape,” Bell explained.

“I wasn’t sure about running a personal best but I went off hard and kept pushing it as hard as I could to 600 metres then dug in. I am delighted with the time.”

In the men’s 800m, Zak Curan came out on top as he ran a time of 1.45.86 to record a season’s best and collect his maiden Grand Prix win.

He required a late burst to see off a challenge from runner up Alex Botterill, who came in second with a time of 1.47.95 to come inside the qualifying time for the World Junior Championships.

Curan has now set his sights on international selection by the end of the year and he is fully aware of what he needs to do to achieve that ambition.

He said: “The aim for me this summer is to get into the Ireland team for the Europeans and to do that I need the A standard time of 1.47.12 while there is also a the B standard of 1.47.6.”

Should Curan make the Ireland team he may well join Ciara Mageean in the squad.

She was on song in the women’s 1500m as she ran 4.07.31 to come out as the victor.