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118th Welsh Cross Country Championships Preview
23/02/2023 00:00, In Blog / Club Notice Board / Cross Country /
On Saturday the 25, the 118th Welsh Cross Country Championships will take place in the Penlan Arena in Brecon with over 800 athletes competing individually and in the club team event. With races starting from 11 o clock we are in for a great day of Cross Country running.
In the Senior Women’s race Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents) will be aiming for her first Welsh Cross Country title, Tsim recently won fourth edition of the John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League at Margam Park earlier this month. Competition will come from Megan Carter-Davies (Swansea Harriers), Alaw Beynon-Thomas (Les Croupiers), Lucy Marland (Les Croupiers) and Donna Morris (Builth and Distict Running Club).
The Senior Men’s race is shaping up to be a close encounter. Current Champion James Hunt (Cardiff Athletics) will be returning for the 2023 edition. Commonwealth Games athletes Jonathan Hopkins (Swansea Harriers) and Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) will be in contention for the title. With competition from Michael Ward (Cardiff Athletics) who recently finished in 10 place at the BUCS Cross Country Championships and Jonathan Butler (Swansea Harriers). Rowan Axe (Cardiff Athletics) and Dan Nash (Carddiff Athletics) will bring further experience. There will also be competition from developing athletes Alex Jackson (Cardiff Athletics), Larry Ryan (Cardiff Athletics) and Tom Wood (Eryri Harriers) to name a few.
In the Women’s U20 race, Gwenno Goode (Cardiff Athletics) will be looking to add a third National to her tally for 2023. Goode picked up the U20 1500m Welsh Indoor title at the beginning of the month and the Welsh Schools Senior Girls Cross Country title last week.
Current U20 Men’s Champion Dafydd Jones (Carmarthen and District Harriers) will be back to defend his title. He will be joined by last year’s bronze medallist Lloyd Sheppard-Brown (Cardiff Athletics). There will be stiff competition from Adam Barber (Harborough AC) who finished in 14 at the BUCS Cross Country and recently improved on his 5K PB at the Armagh International Road Race.
The U17 Women’s race is set to be a very competitive race with many athletes capable of making the podium. Beca Bown (Menai Track and Field) has competed well in the UK Athletics Cross Challenge Series. She will be joined by Welsh Schools Senior Girls Cross Country medallist Caitlin Jones (Aberdare Valley AAC) and Maddison Griffiths (Maldwyn Harriers). Competition will also come from NDP athletes Cara Scott (Menai Track and Field), Lucy Bickerton (Yeovil Olympiads AC) and Bethan Hardman (Bridgend Athletics).
In the U17 Men’s race Welsh Schools Senior Boys Champion Henry Evans (Newport Harriers) will come face to face with Welsh Schools Junior Champion Iwan Thomas (Carmarthen Harriers). They will be joined by fellow NDP athletes Finley Bruce (Carmarthen and District Harriers) and Tristan Cumberland (Brecon Athletic Club). As with the U17 Women’s race, it is set to be a very competitive field.
There will be plenty of competition in the junior races, with a number of athletes who recently competed at the Welsh Schools National Cross Country Championships returning.
Our retail store will be open at the event, with t-shirts at £17.50 and hoodies at £30. We will be operating both a cash and card system.
The day gets underway at with the year 5 & 6 Boys Race at 11:00.
For more information about the day, click here.