Newyddion
Defending Champions and title hopefuls on show in Brecon
14/11/2019 00:00, I Mewn Blog / Cross Country / School News /
The 21st Welsh Inter-Regional Cross Country Championships will take place in conjunction with the 43rd Welsh Inter-Schools and Welsh Colleges Championships in Brecon this Saturday 16th November.
The events will combine for the first time and will use a looping and undulating course around the Penlan Arena which is used for the Welsh Schools and Inter-Schools Championships annually.
The venue is prone to muddy conditions with recent rainfall only adding to the prospect of difficult conditions throughout the 10 race programme.
South Wales took overall victory at the Inter-Regionl Championships which took place a little further north at Llandrindod Wells last December.
The senior women’s race is likely to be a highlight at a time when women’s endurance running in Wales is particularly strong.
Alaw Beynon Thomas is the returning champion and also took the title when the event last visited the Penlan Arena in 2016. Beynon-Thomas will lead a West Wales team with a hope to take team medals as well as individual honours.
Lucy Marland will head the South Wales team and is likely to mount a serious challenge, perhaps seen as the in-form athlete following a fourth place finish as the first Welsh scorer at the Bobby Rea International in Belfast last weekend.
Lauren Cooper finished ahead of Marland the previous weekend at the Leeds Abbey Dash however and will be in action for the East Wales team.
Dominic Smith is another reigning Champion in action, defending the U20 title and leading his West Wales team in Brecon. Morgan James from the South was a top five finisher last year and will look to threaten the podium positions.
Samia Jones of North Wales was an U15 winner last time but moves up the age-groups to contest the combined U17 / U20 race this time. Moli Lyons of Bro Morgannwg took Welsh Inter-Schools honours last year at U15 level and also now moves up.
Brothers Ben and Jacob Reynolds are strong contenders in the U17 Men’s race. Jacob was the Inter-Schools Champion in the middle boys race last time.
Last year’s runner-up in the U15 Inter-Regional race Gwenno Goode remains in that age group, running for the South Wales team.
2018 U13 Inter-Schools Champions Leo Stark of East Wales and North Wales' Madisson Griffiths will both race as U15’s this time.
Race Day Information can be found here