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Weekend Round-Up (5-6 October 2024)
07/10/2024 00:00, In Blog /
PRINCIPALITY CARDIFF HALF MARATHON 2024 – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
Pontypridd Roadents Clara Evans and Dan Nash claimed the Welsh Half Marathon Championship titles on the rainy streets of Cardiff on Sunday morning.
Evans’ remarkable year continued as she claimed the women’s title in a time of 75:42.
The Welsh marathon record holder finished ahead of Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents), who upgraded from the championship bronze medals she claimed in 2022 and 2023.
Tsim, who gave birth during the summer, crossed the line in 76:52, with Louise Flynn (Les Croupiers) claiming the bronze with a time of 79:09.
Speaking after the race, Evans, who has enjoyed a remarkable year on the roads as well as getting married, said: “It was lovely to enjoy the Cardiff Half for once and take it all in.
“The year has been pretty incredible, I’ve got personal bests over every distance, I won a gold at European Championships and I went to the Olympic Games.
“Nothing beats the Cardiff support, people know who I am so it was fantastic.”
Nash took the men’s Welsh title, crossing the line in a big new personal best of 65:13 – surpassing his previous best of 66:16. Silver went to yet another Pontypridd Roadent Dan Hamilton, who also registered a PB of 65:50. Ciaran Lewis (Les Croupiers) claimed bronze in 66:31.
A delighted Nash said afterwards: “My two-year-old and my mum were out on the course supporting me and my wife which was special.
“It was another PB after pacing the Berlin Marathon which I’m happy with, the atmosphere was great.”
In the overall elite race Patrick Mosin and Miriam Chebet led a Kenyan clean sweep of the medals, taking the men’s and women’s titles respectively.
The 24-year-old Mosin surged away from 2023 champion Vincent Mutai to take his title before his compatriot Chebet smashed her personal best to claim first place at the biggest Cardiff Half yet, which saw 27,500 runners taking part.
Mosin claimed his maiden Cardiff Half title in 60:01. Mutai followed 12 seconds later, with fellow Kenyan Cosmos Boi claiming third 60.17.
“It was tough out there but I tried my best and I’m so so happy to win the race,” said Mosin afterwards. “I feel so happy, the fans were amazing motivation and I love racing here.”
In the women’s race, Istanbul Half Marathon silver medallist Chebet timed her charge perfectly to claim victory in 66:42, slashing 34 seconds off her PB, ahead of fellow Kenyans Grace Nawowuna 67:15 and Caroline Nyaga 67:16.
Chebet said: “I feel good, it was a fantastic race, I tried to push as hard as I could and I’m happy to get the PB and to win the race.
“I had great competition pushing me and the support really kept me going around a good course.”
It was a family affair in the wheelchair race as husband and wife Callum and Jade Hall battled it out. It was Callum, of County Durham, who eventually came out on top in 55:05, but Jade claimed the women’s title in 57:57.
Callum said: “I had a feeling my wife Jade was going to win the race, so I had to step up and win otherwise I never would’ve lived that down. She would have had the medal hanging up in the garage and I thought, we can’t have that!”
The 21st edition of the Cardiff Half Marathon, which is part of the prestigious Superhalfs Series, was the biggest in the event’s history with more than 29,000 people signed up to take part across the junior races on Saturday and Sunday’s main event.
Many of those taking part on Sunday did so in fancy dress, including Cowbridge breast surgeon, Zoe Barber, who earned herself a Guinness World Record.
She was running to be the fastest female to complete a half marathon dressed as a cartoon character. The record to beat was 1:53:26 and Zoe, dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast claimed the title with a finishing time of 1:41:57.
She said: “I’m so chuffed. It was hard as it was pretty warm running in the costume, but the support was incredible and every time I felt myself flagging I heard another ‘Go Princess Belle’ and it gave me that extra push.”
The theme for the event this year was ‘A Race For Everyone’ and was an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the city.
This year’s 100 Club, where event organisers Run4Wales donate 100 free places, was a reflection of that with members from groups including Oasis Cardiff, Newport Live, Cardiff Muslim Runners, the Mwslima Running Club and Slimming World.
The Principality Rainbow Roundabout was also back for the second year, a collaboration between Principality Building Society and Pride Cymru, adding a boost to runners in between miles 10 and 12.
The highest ever number of internationals also took part this year – with over 3,000 entrants coming from overseas.
Almost 200 runners were expected to complete their final race in the SuperHalf Series – a collection of half marathon races including Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia – to earn themselves a SuperMedal.
Matt Newman, Chief Executive of Run 4 Wales, said: “This year has seen the highest number of participants take part in the event and we’d like to thank all of our sponsors, charities and volunteers for their support.”
MBNA CHESTER METRIC MARATHON/MARATHON - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
Josh Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) and Alice Johnston (Les Croupiers) both earned podium places in the marathon in Chester on Sunday.
Two-time World Athletics Championships racer Griffiths finished second in the men’s race behind Marshall Smith (Ashford AC) who broke the tape in 2:16.59.
Griffiths, who also represented Wales at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, clocked 2:18.06 as he finished ahead of Peter LeGrice (Bristol and West AC) in 2:18.32 – his fastest time this year.
The women’s race was won by Naomi Mitchell (Reading AC in 2:41.14, ahead of Lianne Milner (Cheshire Dragons), who clocked 2:41.41.
Johnston was third in 2:50.09, which was a big personal best – comfortably eclipsing her previous best of 3:01.16 set in 2019.
In the men’s metric marathon, Ricky Challinor (Buckley RC) finished second to Michael Young, of West Cheshire Athletic Club. Challinor crossed the line in 1:32.16.
BANGOR 10K AND HALF MARATHON – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
Starting in Bangor city centre, the route follows the coastline and along the Garth Pier over the Menai Straits taking in views of Anglesey, Snowdonia and the surrounding North Wales coastline before returning to the city.
The half marathon winner was Martin Sunderland (Woking AC) in 1:13:52, ahead of Edward Land (Aberystwyth AC) in 1:20.56. Huw Gwynn (Caernarfon) was third in 1:21.05.
Winner of the women’s race was Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) in 1:30.06, ahead of Lynsey Coan (Wirral) in 1:38.34 and Ffion Hughes (Ruthin) in 1:39.18.
The 10K was won by Sam Griffiths (Caernarfon), who broke the tape in 34:36, ahead of Ifan Jones (Cybi Striders) in 36:22 and Daniel Davey (Norwich) 38:30.
The women’s winner was Anna Buckingham (Meirionnydd Running Club), who crossed the line in 40:33. Margot Saher (Eryri Harriers) was second in 42:37, ahead of Sonia Williams (Cybi Striders) in 44:14.
DAVID ALUN WILLIAMS NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE – FIXTURE 1 – COLWYN BAY, OCTOBER 5
Results will be published at the link below.
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