Newyddion
Weekend Round-Up (4-5 July)
06/07/2026 00:00, I Mewn Blog /
MEETING PREMIUM STANISLAS DE NANCY – JULY 3
Jake Heyward (Cardiff Athletics) ran his fastest time since he returned from long-term injury earlier this season.
The Welsh 1500m record holder had been out of action for almost four years before bursting back onto the international scene with a win in California where he clocked 3:37.75 on May 1.
On Friday night the Tokyo Olympics finalist and European Championships silver medallist ran 3:32.09 in a closely fought race. The time is a European Athletics Championships qualifying time for Heyward, who finished second at the GB team trials.
As Heyward prepares for his second Commonwealth Games appearance in Glasgow, the time is just over a second outside the personal best he ran finishing fifth at the 2022 games in Birmingham.
ENGLAND ATHLETICS UNDER 20 AND SENIOR TRACK AND FIELD AND COMBINED EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS – BEDFORD, JULY 3-5
A large contingent of Welsh athletes enjoyed success at Bedford over the weekend.
National Development Programme sprinter Sprinter Harry Bradley’s return to action after injury continued with some fine performances in the Under-20 men’s 400m in Bedford.
Bradley, who was due to represent Great Britain at the World Relay Championships earlier this year before injury intervened, ran 49.25 to win his heat before clocking 48.77 in the semi-finals.
In the final, Bradley claimed silver behind Scottish athlete Luc Daniel MacLeod in a time of 48.32.
Transition programme athlete, Jessica Lee (Thames Valley Harriers) won silver in the senior women’s long jump with a best of 6.02m.
Loughborough International representatives Bronwen Reed (Trafford AC) and Poppy Elton (Worcester AC) won the senior 800m and 1500m titles. Elton won the 1500m in 4:25.83, while Reed was triumphant in the 800m final in 2:08.19.
National Development Programme athlete Holly Humphreys (Swansea Harriers) won bronze in the Under-20 3,000m in a new personal best of 9:47.72.
Sam Davies (Swansea Harriers) claimed a silver medal in the senior men’s high jump where he produced a season’s best 2.10m.
In the Under-20 men’s discus, NDP thrower Owen Garrett (Yate and District AC) claimed a bronze medal with 50.99m.
There was also a bronze medal for NDP sprinter Nell Desir (Cardiff Archers) who clocked 11.67 in the final after having run a season’s best 11.62 in the heats.
NDP multi-eventer Matilda Quick (Swansea Harriers) was well placed and going well in the Under-20 heptathlon, but unfortunately was unable to start the final event, the 800m.
Earlier in the competition, Quick celebrated a new personal best of 1.70m in the high jump before winning the shot put with another PB of 12.50m. There was a third PB in the javelin, which Quick sent out to 32.08m.
Another NDP athlete, Amelia Fettis (Newport Harriers) was fifth in the senior women’s hammer with a best of 55.45m.
There was more NDP representation in the senior women’s discus where Lucy Harris (Swansea Harriers) was fourth with a new PB of 48.45m, while Storm Evans (Carmarthen Harriers) was seventh with 45.01m. Dolly Evans (Carmarthen Harriers) was sixth in the Under-20 women’s discus with 35.96m.
In the 400m hurdles, Huw Richard Williams (Menai Track and Field) ran a new PB finishing second in his heat in 54.04 before improving his best again to finish second in the final in 53.78.
Millie Webb (Cardiff Athletics) finished fifth in the senior women’s 200m final, clocking 24.56.
WELSH SCHOOLS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS – ABERDARE, JULY 4
More than 500 young athletes from the length and breadth of the country produced an excellent day’s athletics in the Welsh Schools Track and Field Championships at the Ron Jones Stadium, Aberdare.
Cardiff and Vale Schools District took the overall honours in the team event with a total of 600 points. Glamorgan Valley Schools District took second place with 440.50, while Dyfed Schools District were just behind in third with 439.50.
Within the competition there were dozens of outstanding individual performances across the day with a number of national age group records and championship best performances achieved.
The U16G-Y9/10-MG 200m saw Mia Johnson (North East Wales Schools) claim a new Welsh age group record and championship best time as she won in a super-fast 24.00. Moridiat Olagunju (South East Wales Schools) was second in 24.28 and Myla Moss (Cardiff and Vale Schools) third in 26.11.
There was also a championship best time in the U18W-Y11/12-SG 200m, where National Development Programme flyer Aliyah Afolabi (Cardiff and Vale Schools) was a comfortable winner in 24.04 ahead of Sophie Steele (South East Wales Schools) in 26.76 and Cari Roberts (Eryri Schools) in 26.88.
Not content with just one gold medal and championship best, Afolabi doubled her tally when she won the U18W-Y11/12-SG 100m in a new record of 11.80. Fellow NDP athlete Tiana Odugbesan (South East Wales Schools) was second in 12.29 and Cari Roberts (Eryri Schools) third in 12.92.
Another NDP athlete, Ava-Lexi Placide (Cardiff and Vale Schools) glided to a new Welsh age group record in the U18W-Y11/12-SG 100m hurdles where she clocked 13.93. Odugbesan was once again second in 14.92. Maisie Tuson (Dyfed Schools) was third in 17.35. Odugbesan would get her gold, however, in the U18W-Y11/12-SG long jump with a best of 5.65m.
Jayden Jones (South East Wales Schools) also claimed a Welsh age group hurdles record in the U14B-Y7/8-JB 80m event where he improved his own mark with 12.52. Jude Lane (Cardiff and Vale Schools) was second in 12.70 and Evan Williams (Glamorgan Valley Schools) was third in 12.95.
Not to be outdone, Madison Coote (Powys Schools District) emulated Jones’ feat in the U16G-Y9/10-MG 80m hurdles where she broke her own Welsh age group record to win in 12.03. Rutendo Chasweka (Afan Nedd Tawe) was second in 12.61 and Mali Windsor (Glamorgan Valley Schools) third in 13.01.
Olivia Thomas (Cardiff and Valey Schools) bagged a sprint double in the U14G-Y7/8-JG 100m and 200m, where she clocked 12.72 and 24.89, which were also technically championship best times due to these being new age group events.
There was a Welsh age group best in the U14B-Y7/8-JB 100m where Wole Asanbe (Dyfed Schools) ran a scorching 11.98 to claim gold. Monty Grzonka (Cardiff and Vale Schools) was second in 12.32 and Glorious Khunda (Afan Nedd Tawe Schools) third in 12.33.
The Welsh age group records weren’t confined to the sprints, the U14B-Y7/8-JB 800m saw Jacob Moss (Cardiff and Vale Schools) claim a national best by breaking the tape in 2:09.40. Rowan Carson (Glamorgan Valley Schools) was second in 2:10.11 and Tomi Jones (Afan Nedd Tawe Schools) third in 2:15.29.
Toby Evans (Cardiff and Vale Schools) celebrated a championship best in the U16B-Y9/10-MB 300m where he led the field home in 36.16. Quinn Goffen (South East Wales Schools) was second in 37.05 and Dylan Hopkins (Dyfed Schools) third in 37.52.
NDP multi-eventer Macsen Martins-Hughes (Cardiff and Vale Schools) won the U18M-Y11/12-SB long jump with a best of 6.09m. Morgan Jones (Eryri Schools) was second with 5.81m and Gethin Hanigan (Glamorgan Valley Schools) third with 5.57m.
Another NDP athlete, Summer Evans (Dyfed Schools) won the U18W-Y11/12-SG javelin (500g) with 37.68m. Noa Grace Froneman (Cardiff and Vales Schools) was second with 28.72m and Hollie Weaver (Glamorgan Valley Schools) third with 29.25m. Evans also beat Froneman to the discus title with a best of 33.93m.
Oliver Surman (North East Wales Schools) enjoyed a high-flying day all round as he won both the U16B-Y9/10-MB high jump with a best of 1.70m and the U16B-Y9/10-MB pole vault with a height of 3.20m.
ACTIVITY ALLIANCE NATIONAL JUNIOR PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS – COVENTRY, JULY 4-5
Welsh para athletics enjoyed a gold rush of medals in Coventry over the weekend.
Leading the way were outstanding National Development Programme T54 wheelchair racers Toby Richardson (Yate and District AC) and Owain Terrell (Newport Harriers).
In the Under-18 events, Richardson struck gold over 100m, 400m and 800m. Competing in the Under-20 age group, Terrell celebrated golds over 100m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.
Fellow wheelchair racer Imogen Ashwell-Rice (Newport Harriers) also enjoyed a successful day. The T34 athlete won golds over 100m, 200m, 400m and 1500m.
T37 NDP sprinter Amirah Peckham (Bath University) won gold in the women’s open 100m.
In the frame running, Aneurin Clark (Gloucester AC) joined in the fun with golds over 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.
The Under-14 T27 athlete, who was part of frame running making its debut at the Welsh Senior Track and Field Championships in Cardiff last week, enjoyed another accolade at the meeting.
Clark received the Anthony Hughes Memorial Trophy nominated by officials who recognised his competitiveness, character and sportsmanship.
The award commemorates the life of Anthony Hughes MBE, a passionate coach and athlete, who was a towering figure in the development of Para Sport in Wales.
Hughes, who competed in the shot put and javelin at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, was Disability Sport Wales’ performance manager and was a driving force in ensuring Wales is at the forefront of para sport development. Hughes coached a host of Welsh athletes, including para legends Aled Davies and Hollie Arnold.
ANEURIN BEVAN 10 TRAIL RACE 2026 – BRECON BEACONS, 4 JULY
The race is run past the monument to where Aneurin Bevan’s ashes were scattered. On the way back, the route passes the Chartist caves where they stored their weapons. In the distance there are views of the Brecon Beacons along with the Sugarloaf and Blorange mountains.
The men’s race was won by Daniel Bodman ahead of Martin Thomas and John Luke. In the women’s race, Claire Patterson led the field home ahead of Maisie Pearce and Clare Good.
BRECON CARREG PORTHCAWL 10K AND JUNIOR RACES – JULY 5
The popularity of running in Wales was once again reinforced by a record entry for this year’s Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K.
Almost 7,000 runners signed up to take part across the 10K and junior races – the largest ever entry for the event which features the third race in the 2026 R4W 10K Series.
The men’s race saw Omar Ahmed (Birchfield Harriers) and Welsh Commonwealth Games marathoner Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) go head to head once again.
On this occasion, Ahmed came out on top in 29:44, ahead of Griffiths, who crossed the line in 29:55. Jon Butler (Swansea Harriers) was third in 30:12.
Ahmed said afterwards:
“I’m so happy to have won today. I was really excited to be back in Porthcawl, it’s one of my favourite places. It was a bit windy which was difficult as there was no one around me helping me, but I really enjoyed it.”
The women’s race was won by Charlotte Taylor (Bristol and West AC) in 34:22, ahead of Donna Morris (Builth and District), who clocked 36:53. Lizzie Dimond (Lliswerry Harriers) was third in 37:35.
Taylor who won the Barry Island 10K in May, setting a new course record, added:
“It was windy out there so I tried to use the guys and tuck in for a bit and it was fun coming down the final turn and into the finish, I had a good flow going there so I enjoyed it. There was a great atmosphere all along the course and everyone was in good spirits which was helpful.”
Keep up-to-date with the latest news and updates on our social channels.