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Weekend Round-Up (3rd & 4th March)
04/03/2024 00:00, In Blog /
WORLD ATHELTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS – GLASGOW, MARCH 1-3
Hannah Brier (Swansea Harriers) was part of Great Britain women’s 4x400m squad which won a bronze medal and set two new national records at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow on Sunday.
Brier sadly didn’t make it into GB’s team which took to the track in the semi-final or final, where they finished third behind the Netherlands and the USA in 3:26.36.
But the Welsh 100m record holder was delighted to be involved in Glasgow, the city where she competed in her first Commonwealth Games as a 16-year-old in the 100m heats 10 years ago.
Hannah Brier shared with the BBC during the event:
I couldn't ask for it in a better place, it's a home crowd amongst all these amazing athletes and I'm really trying to soak it all up at the moment.
Being around the top athletes in the world, seeing how they warm up, seeing how they go about their day, it's so fascinating. I am almost starstruck everywhere I look at the moment.
For me it's coming to these championships and showing other Welsh athletes that you can do it. I did not think I would be in this situation a few months ago.
There have been so many people who have messaged me saying 'I can't believe you're in that position, that is so inspiring.
Brier hopes her first taste of life in a senior GB team may lead to a place at the Paris Olympics later this summer, where she would follow in the footsteps of brother Joe, who represented GB in the 4x400 at the Tokyo Olympics.
For me now it's about carrying on with what we're doing in training, I think 'keep progressing, keep enjoying' and I don't see why not.
It's an athlete’s biggest dream competing at the Olympics, so I can't write it off."
Results
TRAFFORD 10K – MANCHESTER, MARCH 3
Welsh marathon record holder Clara Evans (Pontypridd Roadents) clocked a new 10K personal best on the outskirts of Manchester on Sunday morning.
Evans, part of a strong Welsh contingent taking part in the Trafford 10K, finished third clocking 31:53 in a high-quality women’s race.
Also celebrating a new best for the distance was Emily Kearney (Warriors Pentathlon and Athletic Club), who was ninth in 32:50. The men’s race saw Dan Nash (Cardiff Athletics) finish 10th in 29:25.
Welsh Athletics also sent a team of the nation’s best under-20 and under-23 athletes to take part in the event.
In the men’s race, first home was Adam Barber (Harborough AC), who placed 21st in a new PB of 29:52. There were also PBs for Oliver James (Bournemouth) 30:48, Janos Vranek (Aberystwyth AC) in 31:06 and Dion Griffith (Cardiff Athletics) 31:35.
In the women’s race, Megan Williams (Swansea Harriers) led the Welsh runners home in 40th place and a new PB of 35:51. Other PBs were celebrated by Elin Griffiths (Newport Harriers) in 36:35 and Leonora Lynn (Belgrave Harriers) in 36:50. Mai Davies (Swansea Harriers) finished in 40:55 despite being hampered by a leg injury and another athlete falling ahead of her.
Results
JONES O GYMRU ANGLESEY HALF MARATHON AND 10K – MENAI BRIDGE, MARCH 3
Dubbed the UK’s most beautiful half marathon, the Jones o Gymru Anglesey Half Marathon once again lived up to its reputation on Sunday.
The women’s race was won by Emma Alofs, of Cybi Striders, who registered a winning time of 1:29.22, ahead of Naomi Wright in 1:30.39 and Eleri Wright (Rhedwyr Hebog Runners) in 1:33.04.
First home in the men’s race was George Ravenhall (North Leeds Fell Runners), who completed the course in 1:11.28, ahead of Ifan Dafydd, who clocked 1:12:14 and Sam Griffiths in 1:14:00.
It was a good day for the Cybi Striders club in the 10K men’s race where Lloyd Williams broke the tape in 34:59, ahead of his club mate Ryan Roberts in 35:50. Alastair Canaway (North Wales Road Runners) was third in 37:08.
The women’s 10K, was won by Tilly Edwards (Eryri Harriers) in 39:44 ahead of Lydia Sharpe in 40:33 and Orla Healy (Moyne Athletic Club) in 42:05.
Results
JOHN H. COLLINS GWENT LEAGUE – PONTYPOOL, MARCH 3
Pontypool Park provided a fitting finale to the latest John H. Collins Gwent Cross Country League on Saturday.
A hilly course for the fifth and last fixture was made even more challenging by the cold and wet conditions, which also saw the occasional flurry of snow.
Among the standout individual performances on the day were Tom Garrod (Newport Harriers) finishing third in the under-15 boys race in 14:55, which saw him secure top spot in the overall standings after the five fixtures, with Garyn Tough (Aberdare VAAC) third overall.
The girls under-15 race was won by Nansi Griffiths (Carmarthen Harriers) in 16:09, ahead of Holly Humphreys (Swansea Harriers) in 16:15 and Sali Owen (Carmarthen Harriers) in 16:19.
The results saw Humphreys top the overall standings above club-mate Millie Pierce and Rebecca Harries (Cardiff Athletics).
Carmarthen Harriers celebrated a one-two in the under-17 men’s race with Finley Bruce winning in 21:05 and team-mate Ifan Bowen following him home in 22:45. The result also means Bruce tops the standings with Bowen in second.
Lily Oakenfull (Newport Harriers) followed up her success in the Welsh Schools Championship last Wednesday by finishing third in the women’s under-17 race. That result secured her second in the overall standings ahead of Millie Gold (Cardiff Athletics) in third.
The men’s under-20 race went to Ethan Esteban-Protheroe (Cardiff University AC) in 22:20 in front of Ben Hughes (Pontypridd Roadents) in 22:57. Henry Fagan (Cardiff University AC) was third in 23:00, which was enough to take him top in the standings.
Jessica Hyland (Carmarthen Harriers) claimed third in the under-20 women's race, which secured her second in the standings ahead of Caitlin Jones (Aberdare VAAC) in third.
In the women’s under-23 race, Erin Burt (Cardiff University AC) finished the 6.3K course in 26:09 with Kelcy Cooper (Llanelli AC) third in 28:01. The win put Burt top of the standings ahead of Megan Williams (Aberdare VAAC) and Cooper in third.
The senior men’s race, run over 9.4K, saw Phillip Matthews (Parc Bryn Bach Running Club) finish third in 36:09. Alaw Evans (Les Croupiers) claimed second in the 6.3K women’s senior race in 24:41.
Results
ADMIRAL CITY OF NEWPORT HALF MARATHON – MARCH 3
Around 2,000 runners enjoyed sunny but cold conditions for the 11th edition of the Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon on Sunday.
Former 3,000m steeplechase Welsh record holder Lauren Cooper (Western Tempo) won the women’s race by almost a minute, crossing the line in 1:19.52, ahead of Sioned Howells (Swansea Harriers) in 1:20.51 and Emily Fell (Cardiff Runners) in 1:22.39.
It was an excellent day for Western Tempo as triathlete Stephen Derrett took the honours in the men’s race, crossing the line in 1:08.11. Derrett was chased home by Ben Reynolds (Cardiff Athletics), who clocked a big new half marathon PB of 1:08.25. Third was Michael Roderick (Tri Hard Harriers) 1:09.49.
Results
The Barry 40 and Vault Cardiff also took place this weekend, results and updates will be added upon availability.
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