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Welsh Road Relays : Preview
22/09/2022 00:00, In Blog / Road /
Covering a distance of 5400m in a team of four, the Senior Women’s race is set to be a battle all the way down to the line as the top two teams from last years event, Swansea and Les Croupiers have strong entires heading to Pembrey. The Swansea Women will be looking to retain their title from 2021 as they won by over 5 minutes ahead of Les Croupiers, but both teams could be challenged by Pontypridd in the battle for top spot.
Although the teams look different this year, Kate Roberts returns for Swansea, as she will be joined by the likes of Carys Jones and Welsh Junior 1,500m silver medalist Ella Davies. Leading the team for Les Croupiers will be Alaw Beynon Thomas, who ran the fastest overall leg last year, and she will be joined by team mates Amy Griffiths, Ellie Clemence and Ella Turner.
Olivia Tsim of Pontypridd, fresh off her new half marathon personal best of 73:38 set in Copenhagen last weekend heads their team, whilst she will be joined by Liz May, Josie Mae Wheeler and Bethan Apglyn.
In the Senior Men’s race, it looks to be a battle between Cardiff, Swansea and Pontypridd as they look to take top honours. 2:09 marathoner Dewi Griffiths returns after recording the fastest time last year as he heads the Swansea team. With 14:24 man Jac Hopkins joining him as well as Jonathan Butler, part of last years winning team, they look a force to be reckoned with. It will be hard to look past Cardiff though, as James Hunt, with a 13:58 5km to his name, will be joined by Alex Jackson and Rhys Hardman.
Third place finishers last year, Pontypridd, return with strong teams as they aim to finish on top of the podium. 3:41, 1500m runner James Heneghan, who last week also broke 30 minutes for 10km at the Swansea Bay 10km, is joined by Adam Bull, who earlier this year ran 14:44 at the Cardiff Race of Victory 5km, Paul Graham who has a 5km personal best of 14:38 and Sam Richards. They will be a force to be reckoned with as they take on 4 legs of 5,400m.
In the U17 Women’s race, Bethan Hardman of Cardiff Archers, winner of the 1,500m at this years Welsh Junior Championships, will be joined by Mali Macduff and Olivia Morgan as they look to take top spot ahead of Swansea, Cardiff and Bridgend. Although at the time of writing there was no third entry for Menai, look out for Beca Has Bown and Cara Scott for recording fastest legs of the day over the 3.200m course.
In the U17 Boy’s race, Cardiff, Swansea, Menai and Maldwyn will go head to head, with the likes of Aled Breeze, second in the 3,000m at this years Welsh Junior Championships and Harri Morgan heading up Maldwyn and Menai.
The competition kicks off at 11:40 with the Primary School Boys before the Senior Men and Women take to the start at 13:30.
For more information on the event and to see a full entry list, click here.