Newyddion
Weekend Round-Up (15-16 March 2025)
17/03/2025 00:00, I Mewn Blog /
PODIUM FESTIVAL 5KM – LEICESTER MARCH 15
Osian Perrin (Menai Track and Field) broke Roger Hackney’s 40-year-old Welsh 5K road record on Saturday.
Three-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Hackney posted his record of 13:40 in Newcastle back in 1985.
But Perrin, who already held the Welsh under-17 and under-20 5k records, added the senior best to his collection as he crossed the line in 13:34 to claim sixth place in a high quality race won by Daniel Kimaiyo in 13:25.
Charlotte Dobbs (nee Arter) raced for the first time as a mother, finishing the women's Elite race in 16:40.
At the same event Emily Lowery (Belgrave Harriers) was the second female finisher in the Mixed Mile, where she was also fifth overall in a time of 4:46.
SEMI-MARATHON INTERNATIONAL DE LILLE, 5K ET 10K – MARCH 16
Not to be outdone by her fellow north Walian Osian Perrin’s record breaking exploits the day before, Cari Hughes (Cardiff Athletics) broke the Welsh women’s 5km record in France on Sunday.
The previous record of 15:26 had been set by Charlotte Arter (Cardiff Athletics) in her home city in 2021.
But Hughes, who like Perrin had competed at the British Athletics Indoor Championships over 3,000m last month, set a new national mark as she clocked 15:18 to finish ninth in an international field where Ethiopian athletes filled the top five places.
EUROPEAN THROWING CUP – NICOSIA, CYPRUS – MARCH 15-16
Amber Simpson (Wrexham AC/Illinois University) made her full Great Britain debut at the European Throwing Cup in Cyprus on Saturday.
The Welsh Commonwealth Games representative finished just outside the podium places in the hammer as she finished fourth in her final with a best throw of 67.29m.
BATH HALF MARATHON – MARCH 6
This year’s Bath Half Marathon also doubled as the trial for the British Athletics trial race for the World Athletics Road Running Championships.
Welsh Commonwealth Games representative Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) made much of the early running in the men’s race before dropping back to eventually finish third in 63:03 – his fastest half marathon since 2019.
Griffiths’ performance bodes well for the forthcoming London Marathon where he will be part of the elite field.
The men’s race was won by Pontypridd Roadents athlete Jake Smith in 62:20.
The women’s race saw Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents) finish fourth in a new personal best of 73:37.
GREAT WELSH MARATHON 2025 – LLANELLI, MARCH 16
The fast, flat and picturesque Great Welsh Marathon event took place along the Llanelli coast on Sunday morning.
Incorporating three distances over 10k, half marathon and marathon, the event attracted runners from all over the country.
The races were run in gloriously sunny weather taking in the Millennium Coastal Path and views of the Loughor Estuary and Gower Peninsula.
Winner of the men’s 10k was Michael Roderick (Tri Hard Harriers) who crossed the line in 35:29 ahead of Matt Yelland (Club Run Wales) in 35:55 and Adam Clarke (Port Talbot Harriers) in 37:58.
The women’s 10k was won by Amie Bagnall (Cheshire Dragons) in 38:07 with Dai Davies (Swansea Harriers) second on 39:53 and Emma Seward (Les Croupiers) third in 41:11.
Stepping up in distance, the men’s half marathon was won by David Cole (DC Triathlon) in 1:09.55. Christian Hewitt (Tiverton Harriers) claimed second in 1:10.23 with Eddie Lynch (Birmingham University AC in 1:12.25.
Taking the honours in the women’s half marathon was Donna Morris (Builth Wells and District RC) in 1:19.36. Second went to Alice Jacques in 1:22.55, while Tracy Jenkins (Porthcawl Runners) was third in 1:26.52.
The marathon, which counts as a Marathon Majors Qualifier, saw a win in the men’s race for Ieuan Griffiths (Peak Performance Wales), who crossed the line in 2:35.02. Geraint Williams (Swansea Harriers) was second in 2:35.43 with Nik Darlington (Aldershot Farnham and District AC) third in 2:42.03.
The women’s marathon was won by Hayley Weston (Romsey Road Runners) in 3:04.40, ahead of Jessica Wesley (3M Gorseinon Road Runners) in 3:10.50 and Jo Lloyd Davies (Amman Valley Harriers) in 3:12.02.
MERTHYR HALF MARATHON – MARCH 16
The Merthyr Half Marathon is run predominantly on the Trevithick and Taff trails on a road/tarmac course with a small trail section.
The men’s race was won by Simon Lewis (Pontypridd Roadents) in 1:13.03, who finished well clear of Mark Gillett (Chepstow Harriers) in 1:17.13 and Jack Lee (Merthyr Triathlon Club) in 1:19.17.
There was further success in the women’s race for the Roadents as Lewis’ clubmate Kristie O’Connell-James won in 1:26.44. Second was Katherine Matthews (Chepstow Harriers) in 1:30.06 with Niki Morgan (Chepstow Harriers) in 1:31.59.
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