Newyddion

17/08/2022 00:00, I Mewn Blog / Road /

For the first time ever, the Asics Home Nations 5k will be descending on Cardiff, and more specifically Bute Park for an evening of fast racing. Taking place on a multi lap course, the flat and smooth nature will hope to encourage a series of exciting races, accumulating with the Women’s and Men’s Home Nations Races.

Wales are sending a strong team to Bute Park, including recent Commonwealth Games representative Jenny Nesbitt (Cardiff), who has a best of 15:44 on the roads and 15:17 on the track. With a home advantage of training most weeks on this course, Jenny will be looking to use this knowledge to her advantage.

Joining Jenny is the fast improving Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd), who has a personal best of 16:20 on the roads which she set this year. Having just won the Barry 10km last week, she enters this race in great form.

Sophie Harris (Herne Hill) will also be making her way to Bute Park, and with a personal best of 16:19 will be looking to get in amongst the action as she takes on the fast and flat course.

Rounding out the Women’s team will be Kate Roberts (Swansea) who has been on a roll this summer, taking her 5km personal best from 17:18 to 16:41. With the current form she is in, she will be looking to build on this.

The Welsh Women will not have it all their own way when seeking for the team title, as the likes of Scotland, England and Sportsshoes will be making their way across the boarder with some very strong teams.

European Cross Country 11th placer and 16:05 athlete, Jessica Gibbon will be looking to get in amongst the action, as will Elle Twentyman, who’s personal best of 15:46 is currently second fastest in the field. Look out for Holly Archer too. The European Indoor 1,500m Silver medalist will have a fierce change of pace if there are a group of athletes together towards the end. Alex Millard will also be sticking her nose in it, and with a personal best of 15:47, expect her to feature at the front.

U20 European Cross Country Champion Megan Keith is also making the long trip from Scotland and will be one to watch. Steph Pennycook, Annabel Simpson and Megan Davies have all also run 16:00 or faster and look to be the strongest team on paper.

With a personal best of 14:18, Dan Nash (Cardiff) leads the Men’s team. For the British 50km Record Holder 5km will certainly feel short, but with a 10km personal best of 29:23, Dan certainly has a change of pace he can put to good use too. Dan will be joined by Remi Abediyi (Newport). Recently crowed Welsh 1,500m champion, Remi comes into this race in good form and will be looking to build on his 14:29 personal best.

Lloyd Sheppard Brown (Cardiff) ran his personal best of 14:33 at the Cardiff Race for Victory 5km and will be used to the surroundings of Bute Park. Having recently been crowned Welsh 5,000m Champion on the track, Lloyd will be looking to get amongst the front of the race.

With a personal best of 14:40 Jonathan Butler (Swansea) will also be looking to make a dent in the team and push for top spot. Having run his personal best in June, he’s starting this race in fantastic current form. It will be a great race amongst these Men as they will also be looking to take top spot on the podium in the team event.

They will have to be on top form though as 13:59 man Jake Smith will be lining up as part of the Sunday Podcast Team, as will Alex George who has run 13:33 on the track this summer and will be starting on the Puresport team. Ricky Harvey who will be running for England and Dan Jarvis who will also be on the Puresport team both have personal bests just a shade outside 14:00 and will look to make it hard for the Welsh Men to secure a spot on the top of the podium.

Although he hasn’t run a 5km on the road, William Battershill has a 5000m personal best of 14:12 and will also be looking to make everyone else work hard to take the victory. He will be competing for the Birmingham University Team.

It is set to be an evening of fantastic action. Spectating will be free and on a multi loop course there will be plenty of opportunity to see all the athletes fly past!

A provisional timetable is as follows:

17:00: Race 1
17:30: Race 2
18:00: Race 3
18:30: Race 4 inc Women's Home Nations Race
19:00: Race 5 inc Men's Home Nations Race