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Weekend Round-Up (17-19 May)
20/05/2024 00:00, In Blog /
WORLD PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS KOBE 24 – MAY 17 & 19
Hollie Arnold (Blackheath and Bromley) was the first of five Welsh athletes to compete at the World Para Athletics Championships in Japan on Friday.
And Arnold ensured it was a flying start for the Great Britain team as she claimed a sensational sixth consecutive world title in the F46 javelin.
Having won a first global title back in 2013 in Lyon, 11 years down the line, the hunger and desire remain just as strong for the 2016 Paralympic champion.
A solid effort of 39.44m which saw Arnold lie five metres ahead of the rest of the field after round one.
It would be a lead she would never lose, and she further consolidated in round four when she extended her best to 40.89m.
Serbia’s Saska Sokolov and Netherland’s Noelle Roorda finished second and third respectively; their best marks measuring 38.55m and 38.41m.
Afterwards, a delighted Arnold said, “Honestly it was amazing. I have been worried sick the last two days but as soon as I walked out onto the track, I was like ‘game time, gladiator on’.
“The emotion came out when I threw the first plus 40m. After a tough year last year, I’m so pleased to come back with two consecutive world titles.
“I have been telling my coach (Scott Knighton) that if I go out there and get that first throw down, whatever it may be, I can build on that. When I hit the 39.44m, that gave me a real boost for the rest of the series.
“Anything can happen with those rounds, but as soon as those last athletes went to throw and I realised I had won, I just had to hold it together for my last throw.
“My bottom lip was wobbling as I was getting really emotional. But I knew I had won my sixth title, so I just went for it and make it count.”
“I felt so happy when I threw that last one and I knew I had won a sixth title. That feeling never goes away. Thank you so much to all those who have supported me, you know who you are, and I love you all.”
Sabrina Fortune (Deeside) made it two gold medals out of two for Welsh athletes at the World Para Athletics Championships in Japan on Sunday.
After Hollie Arnold’s gold in the javelin on Friday, Fortune produced the best performance of her career as she sealed her third consecutive women’s F20 shot put title in a staggering world record of 14.73m.
Fortune broke the world record twice in her series – first with a best of 14.56m – and then on the final throw when she already knew she had secured the global gold for the third time.
The Ryan Spencer-Jones coached athlete dominated the shot put circle and commanded the arena as she rewrote the record books after a superb series.
She opened with a very strong throw of 14.18m to put her into an early lead, and with her confidence sky-high, she extended the lead with the 14.56m, 17cm further than the previous record held by Poleth Isamar Mendes Sanchez (ECU) who would finish in second overall with a best of 13.90m.
On her final throw, when she already knew she had earned the win, Fortune held her composure and threw further than she had ever done before with a mighty 14.73m effort, to cue scenes of wild celebration.
An ecstatic Fortune said afterwards: “It was an amazing experience, something that I couldn’t have ever dreamed of…getting a world record. I’ve thrown two world records in a day which is incredible. I’ve been throwing so many good throws in the last two weeks, so I wasn’t expecting any less. To hit 14m on my first throw was absolutely crazy.
“I just had to tell myself [after the 14.56m WR] not to celebrate too early because that’s a PB in itself, but I knew if I overdid it, I wouldn’t throw any further. I had to keep a straight face, I kept going to grin, but I knew I had to hold it together right through the competition.
“I was over the moon with 14.73m. It’s hard to put into words how it felt to throw even further. I just wanted to run round and round in circles.”
RESULTS
TRAIL DE GUERLEDAN – BRITTANY, MAY 18 AND 19
Wales won the overall team title in the Inter-Celtic Challenge on day one in Brittany.
Katrina Entwistle (Bristol and West AC) overhauled long-time leader and Welsh team-mate Lucy Williamson (Mynydd Du) to take the women’s title, completing the 26km course in 2:21.09.
Williamson finished second in 2:22.14 with Jo Henderson (Denbigh Harriers) eighth female in 2:29.42 and Eden O’Dea (Deeside AAC) ninth in 2:30.39.
Jacob Tasker (Ogmore Phoenix Runners) was the leading Welsh male runner finishing third overall in 1:58.09, followed by Josh Griffiths (Swansea Harriers), who despite a number of falls in the muddy conditions, finished eighth in 2:02.55.
Owain Jones (Bristol and West AC) was 10th in 2:03.52 with Matt Roberts (Eryri/Calder) 38th in 2:20.57.
The race start was delayed for 10 minutes due to a thunderstorm and rain showers, making the conditions slippery underfoot in warm conditions.
Overall, a great result for Wales over their Celtic neighbours.
RESULTS
NIGHT OF THE 10,000m PBs – LONDON, MAY 18
Dubbed as athletics’ answer to Glastonbury, the Night of the 10,000m PBs once again drew a top quality entry from across the UK and beyond, with athletes from more than 30 countries taking part in the 17 races.
This year’s event, which once again drew a large and enthusiastic crowd to Parliament Hill Fields Athletics Track, carried even greater significance as the final two races of the night – the British Championship races - doubled as the UK Olympic trials.
In the women’s championship race, Welsh marathon record holder Clara Evans (Pontypridd Roadents) clocked a new 10,000 track personal best of 32:02.08 to finish 17th overall and sixth British finisher.
In the high quality junior 800m invitational races, Welsh National Development Programme athlete Libby Hale (Swansea Harriers) was fourth in the women’s under-17 race in 2:11.58.
In the under-17 men’s 800m race, Thomas Loynes (Neath), enjoyed a 1.5 second PB as he stopped the clock in 1:56.06.
RESULTS
HYPO MEETING GOTZIS 2024 – MAY 18 AND 19
Welsh performance programme athlete Abi Pawlett (Trafford) enjoyed a hugely successful two days in the heptathlon at the prestigious Hypo Meeting in Austria.
The event, which attracts the world’s best multi-eventers saw Pawlett set a new heptathlon personal best 6011, which also set a new Welsh record.
The total saw Pawlett finish 11th overall in a world class competition which was won by Olympic silver medallist Anouk Vetter.
RESULTS
RABAT/MARRAKECH DIAMOND LEAGUE – MAY 19
Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff Athletics) made his season’s Diamond League debut on Sunday, where he finished third in the 100m clocking 10.25 behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme (10.11) and Canada’s Olympic 200m gold medallist Andre DeGrasse (10.19).
RESULTS
INTERNATIONALES PFINGSTSPORTFEST REHLINGEN, GERMANY – MAY 19
Cari Hughes (Cardiff Athletics) continued her remarkable start to the outdoor season in Germany.
Having already posted new personal bests over 3,000m and 5,000m already this season, Hughes added another when she ran 4:09.19 to slash more than four seconds off her 1500 PB on Sunday.
RESULTS
LOUGHBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL, MAY 19
The annual Loughborough International saw a strong Welsh team produce a number of outstanding performances including a national record and a clutch of personal bests.
One of the outstanding Welsh performances in the field came in the women’s javelin match final where Freya Jones (Newham and Essex Beagles) threw a new Welsh record of 53.74m, which eclipsed Tesni Ward’s 13-year-old record of 52.78m.
BE FIT TODAY TA OUTDOOR SERIES – LEE VALLEY, MAY 19
There were some excellent Welsh performances at the Be Fit Today TA Outdoor Series at Lee Valley on Sunday, including PBs for two of the country’s most promising female sprinters.
National Development Programme under-17 athlete Nell Desir (Cardiff Archers) clocked a new 100m personal best of 11.68, as did under-15 athlete Aliyah Afolabi (Cardiff Archers), who dipped under 12 seconds for the first time with 11.89.
Meanwhile, Zach Price (Liverpool Harriers) clocked 10.80 for 100m and Luca Logue-Fonesca (Cardiff Athletics) posted a new PB of 10.83 over the same distance.
RESULTS
BRECON CARREG CARDIFF BAY 10K & JUNIOR RACES – MAY 19
Thousands of runners of all abilities and ages enjoyed beautiful weather conditions for Sunday’s Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay 10k.
The elite men’s race was won by Omar Ahmed in a thrilling finish ahead of Kadar Omar – both athletes clocking the same time of 28:47.
The first Welsh finisher was Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers), who continued his excellent form on the road this year by finishing third in 28:53. Ciaran Lewis (Les Croupiers) was fourth in 31:20.
The women’s race was won by Hannah Irwin in 33:16, ahead of the first Welsh finisher, Alaw Evans (Les Croupiers) in 34:58. Emily Carroll was third in 36:20. Louise Flynn (Les Croupiers) was fourth in 36:28.
The men’s wheelchair race was taken by serial winner Richie Powell, who broke the tape in 33:41.
RESULTS
BRISCO GORSEINON 10K 2024 – MAY 19
Michael Roderick (Tri Hard Harriers) took the honours in the men’s race in the Brisco Gorseinon 10K on Sunday.
Roderick brought the field home in 32:50, ahead of Jacob Parry (Neath) in 33:59, and Richard Copp (Swansea Harriers) in 34:12.
The women’s race was won by Naomi Sutton (Run4AllNeath), who clocked 38:34, ahead of Amy Thomas in 39:15 and Bethan Jones (Tri Potential) in 39:53.
RESULTS
NEWTOWN TO ABERMULE 5 MILE – MAY 19
There were 56 finishers for the Newtown to Abermule point to point race organised by Maldwyn Harriers on Sunday.
There was a clean sweep for the home club in the men’s race which was won by Carl Phillips in 30:01, ahead of Steve Jones in 31:40 and Martin Copus, who crossed the line in 32:20.
The women’s race was similarly dominated by the home club with Hannah Thomas claiming the win in 33:41. She was followed home by Melissa Turnball in 35:21 and Jenny Evans in 35:26.
RESULTS
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