Newyddion
2023 Adidas Home Nations Podium 5K Preview
10/08/2023 00:00, I Mewn Blog / Club Notice Board / Road /
The Home Nations Podium 5K returns to Cardiff’s Bute Park this Saturday. The event welcomes athletes competing for national, composite, and club teams and offers bonuses for course records and Welsh all-comers records.
Jake Smith holds the course record taking victory in last year’s race with 14:05 and the Welsh all-comers record sits with Geoffrey Koech at 13:51, which was set at the 2022 Wizz Air Cardiff Half Marathon.
Annabel Simpson last year’s winner holds the women’s course record at 15:51, whilst the Welsh all-comers record sits with Charlotte Arter at a faster time of 15:29.
Six athletes will represent Wales, the men’s team consist of Lloyd Sheppard-Brown (Cardiff Athletics) who’s current best over 5K sits at 14:18 on track and 14:27 on road. He is joined by Dan Nash (Cardiff Athletics) who took the ABP Newport Wales marathon earlier this year. Jonathan Butler (Swansea Harriers) Completes the Welsh team, who has run a new personal best over 5K this season with a time of 14:19.
The women’s team comprises of Welsh Cross Country Champion, Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents). Tsim finished third in the Welsh 10K Championships in May at the Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10k. Joining Tsim is Alaw Evans (Les Croupiers) who finished runner-up at the Welsh 10k Championships, and Kate Roberts (Swansea Harriers) who took victory at the SSAFA 5K in May with a time of 17:08 completes the team.
Outside of the Welsh team, further Welsh interest in the men’s race comes from Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) the current Welsh Champion over 10K, half marathon and marathon, who has a solid record on Welsh soil. Further interest comes from Osian Perrin (Menai Track & Field) who recently claimed a global title over 5,000m representing Ynys Mon at the Island Games.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games 3000m S/C finalist Jonathan Hopkins (Swansea Harriers) will also be in action, Hopkins claimed the Welsh 5k title back in 2018. He will join Griffiths in the Swansea Harriers team.
In the women’s race, Cardiff-based athlete Jenny Nesbitt (Pontypridd Roadents) will feel at home on the course, Nesbitt finished second in the inaugural event last year. Further interest comes from fellow Commonwealth Games teammate Beth Kidger (Brighton Phoenix) who has a fastest time of 15:37 over 5k.
Outside of Welsh interest, Tom Mortimer (Stroud AC) boasts the fastest time of all male entrants, with a time of 13:25, while in the women’s race, the fastest time lies with Kallie Thackery with 14:58, who will represent sponsors Adidas.
One of the strongest composite teams are sponsors Adidas. The team features Omar Ahmed and Kadar Omar.
Both Ahmed and Omar are regulars to racing in South Wales, between them having claimed victories at the ABP Newport 10k, Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run, Ogi Porthcawl 10k, and the Cardiff 5k – race For Victory already in 2023.