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Weekend Round-Up (14-15 September 2024)
16/09/2024 00:00, In Blog /
BRITISH AND IRISH JUNIOR MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS - GLENDALOUGH, IRELAND, SEPTEMBER 14
A strong Welsh team returned from the British and Irish Junior Mountain Running Championships with one silver medal and three bronze medals at the weekend.
Noa Vaughan (Eryri Harriers) was the stand-out performer on the day for Wales at Glendalough, where he claimed a silver medal in the under-20 male race which was run over 6.1KM/275m.
The Welsh youngster finished just six seconds behind the race winner Samuel Bentham (England) clocking a time of 23:35.
Vaughan was backed up by team-mates Matthew Benson (Maldwyn Harriers), who was 10th in 25:13, Rhys Llewellyn (Pembrokeshire Harriers) 25:19 in 12th and Joe Murphy (Brecon AC) 26:06 in 19th.
The team claimed a bronze medal overall in the Under-20 men’s race, which was won by England.
The Wales Under-17 girls team missed out on a silver medal by just one position, having to be content with a hard-fought bronze.
The team was led home in fifth place by Maddison Hughes (Maldwyn Harriers) in 24:27. Millie Pierce (Swansea Harriers) finished one place behind in 24:36, while Holly Coates (Warriors Pentathlon and Athletic Club) was eighth in 25:01.
There was also a bronze medal for the Welsh Under-17 boys team where Oberon Kearney (Warriors Pentathlon and Athletic Club) was fifth in 20:10, followed home by eighth placed Cai Dafydd (Eryri Harriers) in 20:30, ninth placed Will Chalk (Newport Harriers) in 20:34 and 13th placed Osian Parry (Menai Track and Field) in 21:17.
The Wales Under-20 women’s team just missed out on a medal despite the gallant efforts of Beth Rawlinson (Wolverhampton and Bilston), who was eighth in 28:42, Maddison Griffiths (Maldwyn Harriers) 15th in 31:02, Efa Baines (Eryri Harriers) 17th in 31:29 and Caitlin Jones (Pontypridd Roadents) 22nd in 34:43.
The weather conditions were dry and cool. Although windy around the summit, the routes were ideal for fast running with a long, super-quick descent.
The event was a valuable experience for all the junior athletes who were impeccable in every aspect of representing their country.
The Irish hosts put on a welcoming and well organised event as they passed on the baton to Wales where the event will be held next year.
ALLIANZ VAN DAMME MEMORIAL – WANDA DIAMOND LEAGUE FINAL – BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 14
Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Poole AC) finished ninth in the 1500m at the Wanda Diamond League final in Brussels on Saturday night.
The Welsh record holder clocked 3:59.75 as Kenyan superstar Faith Kipyegon won her fifth Diamond League title in a meeting record of 3:54.75.
In chilly conditions at the King Baudouin Stadium, fellow British athlete Georgia Bell, who won a 1500m bronze at the Paris Olympics, finished seventh in 3:58.95.
HOPALONG ABERSOCH HALF MARATHON 2024 – SEPTEMBER 14
The Hopalong Abersoch Half Marathon, 10K trail and 2K beach races enjoy stunning views across Cardigan Bay, Snowdon and Bardsey Island.
This year’s men’s half marathon was won by Chris Pownell (Cybi Striders) in 1:19.30, well ahead of Llyr Williams, who crossed in 1:23.30 and Nicholas Hall in 1:23.45.
The women’s half was won by Maisie Trueman in 1:29.37. Second was Jemma Brown (Shrewsbury Athletic Club) in 1:31.36. Emma Watson (Congleton Harriers) was third in 1:33.03.
First finisher in the 10K Trail race was Steven London with a time of 44:06, ahead of Owen Humphreys (Eryri Harriers) in 44:27 and Chris Walker 46:33.
The first woman to cross the line was Rebecca Slee in 1:02.10 with Holly Scott second in 1:05.27 and Kelly Whitehill third in 1:08.23.
In the 2K race, Osian Tulloch was the first to cross the line in 10:10. Will Jones was second in 10:25 and Alan Gwyl Williams third in 10:28.
The first female to finish was Swyn Evans in 10:47, ahead of Evelyn Britton in 11:44 and Layla Parry in 12:05.
ADMIRAL SWANSEA BAY 10KM – SEPTEMBER 15
A delighted Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) won the men’s race at the 43rd Swansea Bay 10K, which saw more than 4,000 runners take on the scenic coastal route.
The win also brought double Commonwealth Games competitor Griffiths the Welsh 10K title and strengthened his lead at the top of the men’s standings in the Welsh 10K Road Race Series after four of the five races.
The women’s Welsh 10K title was won by Lauren Cooper (Western Tempo), who was the first Welsh athlete to finish in the women’s race.
After a number of second and third place finishes at the popular Swansea event, Griffiths claimed the top step on the podium as he triumphantly broke the tape in 28.22.
Kadar Omar (Birchfield Harriers/Ethiopia) was second in 28:39, while countryman and clubmate Omar Ahmed, who has won major 10Ks in Cardiff, Newport and Porthcawl this year, was third in 29:35.
The women’s race was won in a new course record of 31:57 by Calli Hauger-Thackary (Hallamshire), who represented Great Britain in the marathon at the Paris Olympics.
Cooper, the former Welsh 3,000m steeplechase record holder, was second in 35:28, while Donna Morris (Builth and District Running Club), who was sitting in third place in the Welsh 10K Road Race Series before the race, was third in 35:40.
The wheelchair race saw promising young athlete Owain Terrell (Newport Harriers) follow up his win at the Cardiff 10K earlier this month by taking the honours once again, crossing the line in 31:05.
LAKE VYRYNWY HALF MARATHON 2024 – SEPTEMBER 15
The Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon is a fast one lap race starting and finishing in the village of Llanwddyn, Powys.
The overall winner of this year’s event was Geraint Pugh (Meirionnydd Running Club) in 1:10.10, who finished just ahead of his club mate Adam Jones in 1:10.17. Christopher Gidlow (City of Stoke) was third in 1:10.30.
The women’s race was won by Stacey Hawkins (Lawley Running Club), who clocked 1:21.33. Luisa Candioli (Cheshire Dragons) was second in 1:22.20, while Charlene Jacobs-Conradie (Meirionydd Running Club) was third in 1:24.01.
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