News
Bank Holiday Weekend round up
28/05/2019 00:00, In Blog /
Vitality Westminster Mile, London - May 26
Melissa Courtney (Rob Denmark) shrugged off the effects jet lag and the challenge of European Champion Laura Muir to retain her Vitality Westminster Mile title on Sunday afternoon. Despite admitting before the race that she might find the pace too fast after spending the past four weeks doing 5,000m training in America, Courtney led from gun to tape on the streets of London. The Poole AC athlete set the pace from the start and never relinquished her lead as Muir and the rest of the field wilted in the latter stages, unable to keep up with the Welsh athlete's unrelenting pace.
After the race, a delighted Courtney said:
"It was a really stacked field. Everyone was here from Laura down, so I am delighted to have defended my title. It’s really unexpected. With 400m to go I felt quite easy and I was hoping someone else would push it a bit. Then we turned the last corner and I knew I had to go for it as the others were all there with me. I’m so pleased I had it at the end. Laura’s achievements have made us all work so much harder, and it’s great to beat her. It helped that I know the turns here, I think. I really enjoyed the race and the crowds. I really like this event and have been lucky to win here twice now. I hope I can come back and make it three in a row.”
Fellow Welsh athlete Beth Kidger (Joel Kidger), of Brighton Phoenix, finished 10th in a time of 4:45 - slashing more than 16 seconds off her previous mile personal best. In the Men's Masters Mile Championship race, Dave Williams of Les Croupiers finished second in an impressive 4:31.
Vitality London 10,000 - May 27
Welsh athletes Clara Evans, Charlotte Arter and Abed Teweldebrhan all celebrated top 10 finishes at the Vitality London 10,000 on Bank Holiday Monday. Evans, of Cardiff Athletics, registered a new PB of 33:20 as she produced a brilliant fifth-placed finish behind overall winner Steph Twell, who crossed the line in 31:55. Just behind Evans in sixth place was fellow Cardiff athlete Charlotte Arter, who clocked 33:25.
In the men's race, won by Sir Mo Farah, Newport's Abed Teweldebrhan (Michael Adams) finished 10th in a new PB of 29:26.
IFAM International Outdoor meeting, Oordegem in Belgium - May 25
Eighteen-year-old Cardiff Athletics sprinter Jeremiah Azu (Helen James) celebrated finishing his A levels exams by chalking up his latest 100m victory in a time of 10.55 at the meeting's pre-programme. The fastest junior in Europe this season then went even quicker in a high-class senior race in the main programme, clocking 10.47 as he finished fourth.
In the 200m, Birchfield Harrier Melissa Roberts (Matt Elias) lowered her PB twice as she won her heat in a time of 24.22 during the pre-programme and then finished fifth in the main programme in 24.21. Swansea Harrier Joe Brier (Matt Elias) celebrated his return from injury by winning his 400m heat and setting a new PB of 47.30.
In the 3000m steeplechase, Carmarthen Harriers junior Ben Thomas (Neil Thomas) claimed a big personal best of 9:07.78 as he finished 11th in his heat, while in a separate race Swansea Harrier Jonathan Hopkins finished 15th in 8:40.23. Amman Valley Harrier Jade Williams ran her fastest 1500m time since 2015 as she clocked 4:17.04 finishing fifth in her race.
BMC Grand Prix, Sportcity, Manchester - May 25
David Locke (James Thie) of Cardiff Athletics claimed a new PB of 1:52.96 finishing second in his 800m, while clubmate Lizzie Harris also claimed a PB of 2:10.20 in a quality 800m won by Lynsey Sharp. In the 1500m, Matthew Williams (James Thie) chalked up a PB of 3:48.56 as he finished third in his race.
Under-17 athlete Osian Perrin (Andrew Walling), of Menai, produced a big personal best as he clocked 3:56.43 in finishing second in his 1500m. In the same race, Cardiff Athletics Elliott Richards (Dean Miller) clocked a PB of 3:56.86. The 5000m races saw Cardiff Athletics Jake Smith (James Thie) slice over 40 seconds of his PB as he finished third.
Ras y Meolwyn, Welsh Fell Running Championships & British Championships race
First man home was Jack Wood of Ilkley Harriers in 1:21, and first lady in was Kelli Roberts of Helm Hill Roberts clocking 1.35.33 in a high-quality field which attracted top fell runners from across the UK. Commonwealth Athlete, Andy Davies, was 10th in 1.25.39.
Full Results - Welsh Champions to be confirmed
Edinburgh Marathon - May 26
Welsh athlete Melanie Wilkins (Nick Anderson) produced a brilliant performance to win the Edinburgh Marathon in a huge personal best time. The Winchester AC athlete obliterated her previous best time of 3:17.03 set five years ago at the Virgin London marathon, where she failed to finish last month. Wilkins, who earlier this year won the Llanelli Half Marathon, crossed the line in the Scottish capital to record a phenomenal winning time of 2:42.56 in what she described her first competitive marathon.
It was an excellent day for the Welsh north of the border as Cardiff Athletics' Carys Hughes finished third in the women's race on her marathon debut. Hughes who had finished second at the Great Llanelli Half Marathon crossed the line in 2:54.07, just a second ahead of Lyndsey Eastman.
In the men's race, Swansea Harrier Matthew Richards also enjoyed a new personal best as he finished fifth in a time of 2:33.06.
England Athletics Combined Events Championships, Bedford May 25-26
Triple Commonwealth Games decathlete Ben Gregory (Aston Moore) finished second overall and claimed the Welsh title at the Combined Events Championships in Bedford. After two days of gruelling competition, 2018 champion Gregory posted a total of 7,282 after ending the first day in 14th place on 3,563. Cardiff Athletics Under-23 athlete Harry Hillman (Linford Christie) finished 16th overall and second Welsh athlete with a personal best total of 6,196.
The under-20 men's competition saw Team Bath's Jonathan Evans finish in 16th place overall and Welsh Champion with a decathlon best total of 5,153. In the women's senior competition Cardiff Archers Under-23 athlete Jodi Beynon (Phillip Warwicker) was 13th and crowned Welsh champion with a heptathlon best score of 4,373. The under-20 women's competition saw a sixth-placed finish and Welsh title for Cardiff Athletics' Lauren Evans (Matt Wood) with a personal best score of 4,811.
Treforest 10K, May 26
Swansea Harrier Alex Price won the Treforest 10K on Sunday in a time of 35:46, ahead of Cardiff Harlequin Vaughan Edwards in 36:26 and Chris Oxley, of San Domenico RRC in 36:36. The women's race was won by Nicola Jukes of Parc Bryn Bach in 40:57. Second was Emma Edwards, of Caerphilly Runners in 44:04, with team-mate Naomi Davies third in 45:01.
Rother Valley parkrun, Rotherham - May 25
Swansea Harrier Jonathan Tobin (Kevin Tobin) ran the fourth fastest parkrun in the United Kingdom on Saturday when he clocked 15:13 at the Rother Valley event.