Newyddion

23/01/2025 00:00, I Mewn Blog /

A bumper field of more than 1,100 runners will take part in the 120^th Welsh Cross Country Championships at Pembrey Country Park on Saturday.

Entries from across Wales and beyond range in age from under-11s to over 80s and cover all levels of abilities from novice primary school pupils to Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships athletes.

One of the highlights of the 11-race schedule could be Dewi Griffiths bidding to equal Welsh marathon legend Steve Jones’ remarkable nine senior men’s national cross country titles.

Former marathon world record holder Jones dominated these championships between 1977 and 1986.

Griffiths, who is second to Jones on the Welsh all-time marathon list, has often spoken of his ambition to surpass the prolific Newport Harrier.

After winning his eighth title two years ago in Brecon, Commonwealth Games competitor Griffiths said: “It’s nice to win the title again. It’s been a few years since my last one. So, it’s nice to come back and win another one. I’m one away from Jonesy now.

“Hopefully I have a couple of years left in me to get level with him and maybe even surpass him. But I’m delighted to get another title on the CV.”

However, the Swansea Harrier faces some stiff competition on Saturday with a strong field assembled – many of whom are from within his own club.

They include two-time World Athletics Championships marathoner Josh Griffiths, who last weekend won Two Piers 10k.

Also wearing the white and green colours will be Dafydd Jones, who recently proved his form as the top Welsh finisher at the Cardiff Cross Challenge. He went on to compete at the European Cross Country Championships in Turkey where he was part of the Great Britain Under-23 men’s team which claimed gold.

2023 Welsh 3,000m S/C Champion Thomas Chaston will be making the trip from the USA in hunt of an inaugural Cross Country Title.

Others toeing the line will include Dan Nash (Pontypridd Roadents), who has made the podium a number of times at these championships and was recently named in the elite line-up for this year’s London Marathon alongside Dewi Griffiths.

Last year’s bronze medallist, Ciaran Lewis (Les Croupiers) is another who will be hoping to challenge.

There is also a strong entry in the senior women’s race which will feature last year’s silver and bronze medallists Alaw Beynon-Evans (Les Croupiers) and Martha Owen (Deeside AAC).

Another Deeside AAC athlete competing is Eden O’Dea, who is in fine form following her win at the Twin Piers 10k.

Also in recent winning form is Lauren Cooper (Parc Bryn Bach), who last weekend won the senior women’s 1500m title at the Welsh Indoor Athletics Championships and was the winner here when the Championships last visited Pembrey in 2022.

Lucy Marland (Les Croupiers) who finished fifth overall in Brecon last year and second in the over-35 category will be hoping to be in the mix again this year.

The women’s age group events will feature some mouthwatering match-ups – in particular the under-17 and under-20 women’s race, which will feature a number of Welsh Athletics National Development Programme athletes.

Among the under-17 entrants will be record-breaking Swansea Harriers track athletes Libby Hale and Millie Gold. Hale won last year’s under-15 race, while Gold was triumphant in the under-20 race.

The men’s under-20 race will see two of last year’s under-17 medallists in the field – Finley Bruce and Ifan Bowen – both of Carmarthen Harriers.

A strong men’s under-17 line-up features Thomas Loynes (Neath Harriers), who last weekend won the senior men’s 800m title at the Welsh Indoor Athletics Championships.

In the under-15 boys event, last year’s champion Osian Parry (Menai Track and Field) will be hoping to repeat the feat this time around, although there will be plenty of challenges from a large field.

In the girls under-15 race, last year’s bronze winner Bryony Boyce (Cardiff Athletics), will be aiming to upgrade the colour of her medal this time around. However, Martha Bown (Menai Track and Field) who won the under-15 girls title at the recent North Wales Cross Country Championships will hope to provide a stern challenge.

The action will start at the picturesque country park near Llanelli at 10.45am with the Year 3 and 4 boys and girls races.

The final event of the day is the men’s under-20 race, which is due to start at 3.05pm.

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