Newyddion
Welsh Cross Country showpiece set for Pembrey on Saturday
20/02/2020 00:00, I Mewn Cross Country /
The Welsh Cross Country Championships will take place at Pembrey Country Park near Llanelli on Saturday.
The Welsh Cross Country showpiece will go ahead despite further inclement weather forecast for the region.
This may play in to the hands of Swansea Harrier Dewi Grifffiths who will be looking to secure an eighth Senior title. The event stalwart is notoriously hard to beat in difficult conditions. He will however race here following a lay off from training at a time when 2018 Champion James Hunt seems to be moving from strength to strength.
Hunt’s last outing was a sub 14-minute posting at the Brooks Armagh 5k International last week with Griffiths showing a return to fitness with a 14:24 clocking.
Track specialist Guy Smith and GB International Triathlete Morgan Davies will support Griffiths in the Swansea men’s team.
Nathan Jones is a new addition to the Cardiff AC team, joined by the British record holder for 50km, Dan Nash.
Cardiff are the defending team champions and are possibly the strongest on paper.
Melanie Wilkins of Wycombe Phoenix Harriers and Lauren Cooper of Parc Bryn Bach Runners will start as the favourites for the women’s race.
Former Alabama University team mates Sarah Livett of Menai Track and Field and Rebecca Evans of Cardiff AC will also feature in the women’s race.
Andrea Whitcombe is a former multiple Welsh Cross Country Champion who will return to the event in the W45 category, racing for the Swansea Harriers team.
The women’s title went to the Harriers in 2019 but is perhaps wide open this time.
Training partners Elliott Lawrence and Dominic Smith of Swansea Harriers will be worth looking out for in the U20 men’s race.
Samuel Roberts of Sheffield and Derne AC warmed up for the weekend with a solid run in Armagh with a time of 14:41 and finishing ahead of Lawrence and Smith.
Morgan James of Cardiff AC will lead his clubs hopes here.
Bridgend AC’s Katrin Higginson will defend her U20 women’s title with Deeside AAC’s Martha Owen the runner-up from 2019 also racing.
Ashleigh Willis will return to Pembrey in the U17 women’s race having won her age-group and the race outright last time.
Osian Perrin of Menai Track & Field was the U17 Champion 12 months ago and will face a much improved Lloyd Sheppard of Cardiff AC this time.
Frank Morgan will lead a strong Carmarthen Harriers team in the U15 Boys race.
Event Information can be found here