Caroline Hoyte has targetted an international recall eight years after last representing her country following her triumph in the AAAs 10k Championships on Sunday.

A rejuvenated Hoyte rolled back the years to complete a hat-trick of national titles when she stormed to victory at the Chichester Priory 10k, which incorporated the AAAs and Sussex championships.

The Arena 80 star finished well clear of a strong field to set a new personal best of 33min.25sec to follow up her victories in 1997 and 2003.

The manner of her victory has convinced Hoyte she can pull on a Great Britain vest again at the age of 38 with the Chiba Ekiden Marathon Relay in Japan next month her first target.

Hoyte said: “I quit athletics just after winning in 2003 because I had my second child and I’ve only been training seriously for a year so it was really nice to win the title for the third time.

“It was hard to dedicate the time to training when I had little ones but now they are at school I decided I wanted to back into it and I’ve been getting better and better as time goes on.

“I’ve now set new personal bests for the 3,000m and 5,000m on the track and the 5k and 10k on the road in the last six months so I guess I must be in the form of my life.

“That may seem odd at 38 but I think my age has a certain amount to do with it. Everything else in my life is devoted to the kids but my running is for myself and that makes it special.

“I’m really enjoying it and there is the feeling that time is running out a bit too so I’m trying to make the most of it. I’m training harder than ever before and it is paying dividends.

“I’d love to get picked for the Chiba Ekiden. I competed in it in 2000 which turned out to be the last time I represented Great Britain so it would be nice to get back in at the age of 38.

“I was selected for the team in 2003 together with Paula Radcliffe but had to pull out as I had just found out I was pregnant. I was gutted about that and never envisaged having another chance.”

Hoyte was in top form on Sunday and never looked back after pulling clear of her nearest rivals at the 2k stage.

Her time sliced 14 seconds off her previous best set when winning her second national title at Bourton-on-the-Water five years ago and was 43 seconds ahead of runner-up Vicky Gill.

It proved a double success for Hoyte as together with Fiona Clark and Julie Briggs, who came fourth and 12th respectively, she helped Arena 80 win the national team title.

The trio now head to Sutton Park in Birmingham at the weekend for the National Road Relay Championships which they qualified for thanks to their third place at the South of England Championships.

A top ten finish is well within their capabilities while Hoyte will also be hoping to impress the GB selectors who will be using the event as trials for the Chiba Ekiden.

It was not such a good day for Sussex’s top men on Sunday, however. Only two managed to finish ahead of Hoyte in the overall standings with James Baker 29th and Matt Dumigan 35th.