Newyddion
2026 Welsh Cross Country Championships - Preview
22/01/2026 00:00, I Mewn Blog /
The Welsh Cross Country Championships heads back to Cardiff this weekend for the first time since 2014.
For the past decade the event has toured a number of venues including Swansea, Brecon and Pembrey.
But on Saturday, more than 1,100 runners will descend on Llandaff Fields which is growing an international reputation as the home of the Cardiff Cross Challenge.
Competitors from primary school age right up over 75 will tackle a different course to the one used for the annual World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold Label event.
Adding to the slightly unfamiliar feel to the 121st edition of the championships is the absence of Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) from the start lists.
At last year’s championships, the Commonwealth Games marathoner equalled legendary Welsh distance runner Steve Jones’ record of nine senior men’s titles.
However, there will be plenty of high quality entries across all the categories and age groups, including Thomas Chaston (Belgrave Harriers), the man who finished second to Griffiths last year.
Chaston, a Welsh championship-winning steeplechaser, will be joined in the senior men’s race by the likes of James Hunt (Bridgend Athletics) – himself a former winner of this title.
Also toeing the line will be Dafydd Jones (Swansea Harriers), who was the highest Welsh finisher at the 2024 Cardiff Cross Challenge and went on to represent Great Britain at the European Cross Country Championships in Turkey later that year.
Jones will be joined by Swansea Harriers team-mate Josh Griffiths, who has twice represented GB over the marathon distance at the World Athletics Championships.
Swansea Harriers and Meirionnydd RC are the likely favourites for the men's team title.
The senior women’s race will see Emily Chaston (Belgrave Harriers) look to claim a maiden Welsh title. If the 9:17 3,000m runner was to win, it would set up an exciting potential brother / sister double if Thomas could then take men's race victory.
Lauren Cooper (Parc Bryn Bach) will return to defend the title she won at Pembrey last year. The former Welsh 3,000m steeplechase record holder will face stiff competition from the likes of Deeside AAC trio Martha Owen and Eden O’Dea and Welsh Inter-Regional Champion Mia Roberts.
Owen finished fifth behind Cooper and won bronze the previous year, while O’Dea, who was seventh last year is in excellent form having placed fourth overall and the first female at last weekend’s Twin Piers 10k in north Wales.
Great Britain & Northern Ireland International Moli Lyons (Pontypridd Roadents) could definitely cause an upset, depending on her fitness levels.
Saturday’s action kicks off with the Urdd’s male and female primary school races, featuring hundreds of young runners, which will be a spectacular curtain raiser for some eagerly anticipated age group showdowns.
The under-13 boys race will feature Rowan Carson (Bridgend Athletics), who was in imperious form at last weekend’s Welsh Junior Indoor Athletics Championships where he broke the Welsh age group records over 800 and 1500m.
But he is unlikely to have things all his own way as he will be up against the likes of Liverpool Cross Challenge winner Zac Munn (Cardiff Athletics).
The girls under-13 race is likely to be equally competitive as it features a handful of medallists from last weekend’s indoor championships.
It will be interesting to see if the likes of Alesha Santos (Rhondda AAC), Molly Mae McQueen (Swansea Harriers), and Deeside AAC twins Ella and Gwen Hayes can transfer their indoor form to the cross country arena.
There will be another Welsh indoor record breaker in the boys under-15 race in the shape of Oliver Cobbold (Swansea Harriers), who broke the 3,000m record last weekend. But once again, it won’t be plain sailing as the start-list also features, amongst others, Bridgend Athletics pair Lewis Durston and Nate Greig.
The Under-15 girls race includes Martha Bown (Menai Track and Field), a winner at the Inter Regional Cross Country Championships in November ahead of Bridgend Athletics duo Esme Lewis and Bella Thie, who are also entered for Saturday.
The men’s and women’s under-17 and 20 races are also stacked with talent.
Amongst the line-up in the women’s race is multiple Welsh 1500m Welsh age group record holder Libby Hale, along with Amelia Williams (Carmarthen Harriers) and Bryony Boyce (Cardiff Athletics) who were first and second at the Inter Regional Cross Country Championships.
Meanwhile, the men’s race looks equally competitive with Carmarthen Harriers Finley Bruce and Iwan Thomas aiming to challenge for medals along with Aberdare Valley AAC under-17s Cian and Garyn Tough also hoping to be in the mix amongst others.
As always, the older age groups will be hotly contested. Amongst the many names to look out for include Donna Morris (Builth Wells), Louise Flynn (Les Croupiers), Lowri Morgan (Les Croupiers), Phillip Matthews (Parc Bryn Bach) and Ifan Lloyd (Swansea Harriers).
The day’s action starts with the year 3 and 4 primary girls race at 11.15am. The day’s racing will draw to a close with the Under-17/20 men’s race which starts at 15.25pm.