The Babcock 10k Series gets under way in just over four weeks - and the record prize list has already attracted a quality entry.

The series of three races begins with the Babcock Helensburgh 10k on Wednesday, May 3 at 7.30pm and is followed by the Babcock Dumbarton 10k on Thursday, May 11 and the Babcock Shettleston 10k on Sunday, May 28.

The record prize list of nearly £6,000 for the series has already attracted a quality entry. Joining Rio Olympic marathon runner, Derek Hawkins from Kilbarchan Harriers are a clutch of former winners from new host club, Shettleston Harriers, in Glasgow’s East End.

Hawkins recently ran the fastest time for the 5.8 mile leg in the Scottish Road Relay Championships in Livingston so is coming back strongly after his injury wrecked preparations for Rio.

Amanuel Hagos, who is a past winner in Helensburgh and course record holder at Clydebank, arrived in Scotland in 2008 when running the World Cross Country Championships for Eritrea in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park. He sought political asylum and made Scotland his home, joining Shettleston Harriers the same year.

He has fought back from a bout of tuberculosis and is now rounding into good shape.

Tewelde Mengisteab has followed a similar path and has enjoyed unprecedented success in the former Polaroid Series, winning each race at least once in the past few years.

They will be joined by club stalwarts Paul Sorrie, now 38, and Mike Deason from the USA.

Sorrie is the defending champion at Helensburgh and recently won the Glasgow University 5 miler in convincing style.

It is also hoped that Olympic Steeplechaser from London 2012, Weynay Gebreselassie, will line up for at least one of the races.

He recently moved back to Shettleston from Birmingham’s Birchfield Harriers and was joined by a young up and coming talent Meron, also from Eritrea who is yet to be tested against this level of competition.

Babcock Shettleston 10k Race Director, John Mackay is excited about the impression his talented squad hope to make across the series.

You can enter now at entrycentral .com and every finisher receives a unique medal and goody bag.

Enter the whole Series and it's 50% off the third race - and you get a free More Mile technical T-shirt with special Series design.