Catherine Dugdale is hoping to emulate Wales’ greatest ever marathon runner this weekend.
The Swansea Harrier is aiming to lead the field home on Sunday at the Welsh Cross-Country Championships (24 February). If successful, she will equal Steve Jones’ record number of nine Welsh Cross-Country titles.
It won’t be plain sailing though as Cardiff’s Debbie Jones will be among those expected to deliver a fierce challenge.
Dugdale explains, “I’m really looking forward to racing in Swansea as a local Harrier. It is a very challenging course and seems longer than usual so I hope that my extra mileage put in for a half marathon will pay off. My main challengers are Debbie Jones and Clare Martin although if Non Stanford is in the field she should not be ruled out either.”
With selection places up for grabs for Edinburgh’s Home Internationals in Holyrood Park at the end of March, the Championships are set to be keenly contested.
Despite a seven year absence from long distance running, Commonwealth Games 1500m runner James Thie is also hoping to continue his comeback to cross-country. Last weekend, he burst back onto the scene, finishing second in the Gwent League: “It would have been a surprise to many when I made the start line because of my absence from cross-country. I was unsure of how to pace myself but finished with a solid second place. The Welsh Championships will be much tougher though.”
Leeds-based Ian Mitchell is tipped to do well over the Singleton Park course as he has made a recent return to form but he is likely to encounter a struggle from Cardiff AAC runners Nat Lane and Jorge Thomas.
Lane recently finished sixth in the Cardiff Cross Country Challenge while Thomas – who lives in Abergavenny – was just one spot behind.
Entry is FREE to spectators. The start and finish lines are located at Bishopgore Comprehensive School.
For more information, please contact Welsh Athletics on 02920 644870
