Welsh athletes Amanda Pritchard and Steve Davies won their respective races in the Welsh 5km Road Championships last weekend.
Pritchard, in her debut 5km, followed up a fine outing at the Armagh International Road Race to take her first Welsh road title.
Pritchard was followed home by Delyth James (Morpeth Harriers), who had the previous weekend battled with Cath Dugdale in the Welsh Cross Country Championships, showed strength to hold off a challenge from and up and coming Welsh U20 Elenor Kirk of Swansea Harriers.
Amanda, famed for her performances over shorter distances, showed good strength to not only take the title but to also lead the Cardiff AAC ladies to the team title.
In the men’s race, Davies of Newport Harriers won a strong battle to the line from Chris Moss (Cardiff AAC) and rising star Craig Peters (Bristol and West), who at 19 years of age has already made an impact on the Welsh senior road team.
In a hotly contested race there were good performances from twins Marc and Lewys Hobbs (Swansea Harriers AC) and strong support from other team members saw Swansea Harriers take the team title ahead of Cardiff AAC.
The race at Blackweir Park, also accommodated an Under 23 International between England, Scotland and Wales.
As expected, the race was led by pre race favourite Tom Russell of Scotland. Russell, who is currently studying at Bristol University, pulled away from Davies in the final 100m to win the race outright and lead Scotland to the U23 team title. A strong English team finished 2nd with Wales U23’s taking team bronze. The Welsh team consisted of Craig Peters, Simon Lawson, Ieuan Thomas and an exceptional talent in the form of 16 year old Dewi Griffiths of Carmarthen Harriers AC.
The England U23 women proved too strong for the Celtic challenge. They were led home by race winner Felicity Milton and finished athletes 1, 2, 3 in the race overall. The Welsh U23 women’s team, consisting of Delyth James, Elinor Kirk, Leah Dixon and Leanne Fitzgerald, finished ahead of Scotland to take team silver.
Unfortunately due to problem with the route the field were misled and ended up running 220 metres short.
