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60th Welsh Schools National Cross Country Championships Round-Up
16/02/2023 00:00, In Blog / Cross Country / School News /
It was a great day of cross country running in Penlan Arena, Brecon for the 60th edition of the Welsh Schools Cross Country Championships, with 700 athletes competing in the team and individual competitions.
Cardiff and the Vale claimed the overall team title for the fourth year in succession, now reigning Champions since 2018 (no competition held in 2021) with a total of 111 points. It was close between second and third place, but it was Dyfed that took silver with a combined total of 88 points and South East Wales in bronze with 85 points overall.
A number of athletes showed great transition from track to field, with many returning home with Indoors and Cross Country titles already this year.
Junior Girls
After picking up the Welsh Indoors U15 title and a Welsh Record in the 3000m earlier this year, Bryony Boyce (Cathedral School – Cardiff and the Vale) was first home in the Junior Girls race. Followed by Heather Watson (Hawarden High School – North East Wales) in second and Sioned John (Ysgol Gymraeg Glantaf – Cardiff & the vale) finishing in third. Reclaiming their team title in this category was Cardiff & the Vale.
Junior Boys Race
North East Wales took the Junior Boys team title, but it was Garyn Tough (Aberdare Community School – Glamorgan Valleys) reigning Welsh U15 3000m indoor champion that took first in the race. Finlay Burns (Cardiff High School – Cardiff & the Vale) came home in second and Lucas Salvage (St Julians – South East Wales) recent winner of both the Welsh 1500m and 800m titles.
Senior Girls Race
Current Welsh Indoors U20 3000m title holder Gwenno Goode (Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg – Cardiff & the Vale was the first Senior Girls athlete across the finish line. The Cardiff & Vale team captain helped guide the district to team victory. Caitlin Jones (Merthyr College – Glamorgan Valleys) who finished third in the Elite Women’s Nos Galan Road Race took second, and Maddie Griffiths (Welshpool High School – Powys) claimed third.
Year 7 Boys
It was another victory for Cardiff and the Vale in the team event, this time for the Year 7 Boys race. In the individual standings, Cobi Jones (Cwm Rhymni-Gelli Haf – Glamorgan Valleys) was the first athlete across the finish line, Lucas Howard Machado (Cardiff High School – Cardiff and the Vale, came home in second, and completing the top three was Macsen Watts (Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw – South East Wales).
Year 7 Girls
It was Leah Rhodes (Bassaleg School – South East Wales) that claimed victory in the Year 7 Girls race. Eryri took the team title in this age category, with two athletes finishing in second and third position. Martha Bowen (Ysgol Gymraeg Bodedern – Eryri) in second and Esyllt Owen (Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni – Eryri) in third.
Senior Boys Race
Host county Powys claimed the Senior Boys team title. NDP athlete Henry Evans (Monmouth School for Boys – South East Wales) claimed victory, with Ben Hughes (Coleg y Cymoedd – Glamorgan Valleys) in the second and Aled Breeze (Welshpool High School – Powys) third across the finish line.
Middle Girls Race
Millie Gold (St Illty’ds – Cardiff & the Vale) continues her fine form with a win in the Middle Girls race, after winning the U15 female race at the Milton Keynes British Athletics Cross Challenge in November. Beca Bown (Ysgol Gymraeg Bodedern – Eryri) took second and Abigail Doherty (Fflint High School – North East Wales) completed the podium in third. It was Cardiff & the Vale that claimed victory in the team event for the Middle Girls race.
Middle Boys Race
In the final race of the day, it was a clean sweep for Dyfed in the middle boys race claiming the team title. It was Iwan Thomas (Ysgol Glan y Mor – Dyfed) that claimed the title, Finley Bruce in second (Ysgol y Preseli – Dyfed) and Ifan Bowen in third.