Newyddion
Welsh Inter-Schools & Inter-Regional Cross Country Championships 2024 - Round-Up
19/11/2024 00:00, I Mewn Blog /
School, regional and personal pride were at stake as more than a thousand cross country athletes of all ages headed to Newtown on Saturday.
They were taking part in the 25th Welsh Inter Regional Championships and 47th Welsh Inter Schools Championships at Dolerw Park.
The event featured races over nine age groups from under-13 up to over 65 as the four Welsh regions – East, North, South and West did battle. There were also two primary school races organised in conjunction with the Urdd.
Winner of the senior women’s race was former Welsh 3,000m steeplechase record holder Lauren Cooper.
The Western Tempo athlete, who was representing East Wales, completed the 6,340m course in 22:27, ahead of fellow East Wales athletes Elinor Mattey (Parc Bryn Bach Running Club) in 23:06 and Lauren Stockley (Parc Bryn Bach Running Club) in 23:10.
Unsurprisingly, the East Wales clean sweep earned the region the senior women’s team title ahead of South Wales.
The senior men’s race was run over 9,550m. First to cross the line in 29:59 was Callum Campion (Cardiff Athletics), who was representing West Wales.
Just two seconds behind was North Wales’ Daniel Kashi (Meirionnydd Running Club), with fellow regional and club team mate Morgan Kendall third in 30:10.
The senior men’s team title went to East Wales, who just pipped South Wales to the honours.
There were also a number of excellent performances amongst the age group races, including National Development Programme athlete Libby Hale winning the Under-17 and Under-20 women’s race.
Following up her excellent run at the Cardiff Cross Challenge, the Swansea Harrier, who was representing West Wales and Bishopston Comprehensive, completed the 5,040m course in 17:23.
Second in 17:52 was North Wales athlete Beca Bown (Menai Track and Field/Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern). Another North Wales athlete, Madison Hughes (Menai Track and Field/Llanidloes High School) was third in 17:56.
West Wales took the regional title in both the women’s under-17 and under-20 categories.
There was a North Wales clean sweep in the 5,810m Under-17 and Under-20 men’s race which was won by Noa Vaughan (Eryri Harriers/Coleg Menai) ahead of Matthew Benson (Maldwyn Harriers/Llanfyllin School) in 17:51 and Miguel Jenkins (Menai Track and Field/Ysgol Friars Bangor) who clocked the same time.
South Wales took the under-17 men’s regional title, while West Wales took the honours in the under-20 category.
At the end of an intense day’s competition, the event’s overall women’s team title went to East Wales, while South Wales claimed the overall men’s title.
The combined overall regional title went to East Wales, who just pipped South Wales into second place.