Sunderland Stroller Alyson Dixon to wear number one in the Saltwell Harriers 10k

Race director Keith Wood has offered the double Olympian and 50k world record holder the number in recognition of her achievements and his acknowledgement of her many times of competing in the race.

She goes into the event after racing sparingly, with her last outing in the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k on October 27 where she clocked 34.11, but the course was found to be 23 metres short and performances were invalidated.

Following this she turned out in the Silksworth parkrun where she recorded 18.23 at the beginning of the month.

The 41-year-old claimed her sixth Saltwell victory last year after her first win in 2011. Her fastest time on the course came in 2013 when she clocked 35.08.

The race is on an undulating route through the Saltwell Park paths and closed roads around the park.

Course records are: Male: Ryan McLeod 30.57 (2011). Female: Rosie Smith 35.05 (Durham City).

A field of around 500 is expected. Online entries have closed, but Saltwell will take entries on the day up to the limit of 600.

As she looks into the New Year, Dixon will focus on qualification for the Tokyo Olympics in the marathon.

The Siksworth athlete faces a tough challenge as there has been a surge in the quality of performances on the British women’s marathon scene.

This follows Jess Piasecki’s marathon performance in Florence with her 2.25.28 which moved her to third on the British all-time marathon charts.

Charlotte Purdy recorded 2.25.38 in the London marathon in April for the fourth fastest time overall. Steph Twell claimed a 2.26.40 time in Frankfurt and Steph Davis was a 2.27.42 performer in Valencia.

All those times are within the British standards for Olympic qualification of 2.29.30 and selection will be made after the London marathon in April.

Dixon’s fastest marathon is 2.29.06 which she set in the 2017 London Marathon when she retained her British championship title.

She told Athletics Weekly that she will go back to the marathon after her brief, but highly successful detour to the ultra distance, and try to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

She said: “Right now I intend to go back to the marathon and try to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. If I don’t make it I can go back to ultras. But for now I want to stick to the shorter stuff.

“I also want to complete the marathon majors and would like to break the British Masters 5k record.’’Dixon clocked 3.07.20 to win the 50k event in Brasov in Romania on the 31st of August, to beat the previous world record of 3.08.39 set by South African Frith van der Merwe 30 years ago.

Houghton Harriers have two athletes assured of their place in the North Eastern team for the Inter Counties Championships at Loughborough on Saturday March 7.

Henry Johnson and Will Bellamy finished second and third respectively in the North Eastern Championships in the Under-17 Men’s race to ensure their selection at Alnwick on Saturday.

Clubmate Cameron Allan was fifth in the senior men’s race and looks certain for selection for the 15-man senior team.Sunderland Harriers’ Liam Taylor (13th) and Michael Barker (15th) need to turn out in the Northern Championships at Bedale in North Yorkshire, to strengthen their selection chances.

While Junior athlete Joe Pomfret is a likely candidate for the Under-20 Loughborough championship race after finishing sixth at Alnwick.

Sunderland Harrier Connor Prior finished third (31.55) in the Hansterley Forest 7k Santa Dash behind winner, Elvet Strider Alex Mirley, who recorded 29.21. Richard Evans of St Albans was second (31.20).

The rearranged Run Durham Dalton Park 10k, that was postponed on December 5 though ice on the course, has been rearranged for Sunday (10.am).

Meanwhile, Dina Asher-Smith was delighted to finish third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards – and seemingly even more happy that her coach John Blackie - who she has worked with since the age of eight - was chosen as Coach of the Year.

"It's been an absolutely fantastic night for athletics, I'm really happy with third and John getting an award as well is absolutely amazing. He's not only coach of the year this year, but every year," she said.

"I honestly think that he truly deserves it because he's completely selfless."

Asked what the target might be for Asher-Smith at the Tokyo Olympics next summer after her 200m gold and 100m silver at the World Championships, Blackie said: "It would be nice to pick up one or two medals in Tokyo, to go there in top form, in the form that she's capable of. We know there are things that can be done this year to improve on what she's been doing up to now.

"It's not easy because now we're on the margins - it's not the massive improvements it's the small improvements."