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Weekend Round-Up (31 - 1 February )
02/02/2026 00:00, In Blog /
BOSTON UNIVERSITY JOHN THOMAS TERRIER CLASSIC – BOSTON, JANUARY 30
Just a week after setting a new Welsh indoor 800m record, Issy Boffey (Enfield and Haringey) was at it again as she produced a genuinely world class performance in Boston.
Boffey’s run of 2:00.14 in the same city just six previously smashed Hayley Tullett’s existing Welsh record.
But on Friday night, the 25-year-old obliterated that mark as she clocked a breathtaking 1:57.43 to go second on the British all-time indoor rankings.
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson is the only Brit to have run faster than Boffey on the boards with 1:57.18.
The time also puts Boffey eighth on the all-time global rankings.
Running off a fast pace, Boffey finished more than half a second ahead of her nearest rival Roisin Willis as she led a strong international field home.
The Team Wales Commonwealth Games hopeful, who was visibly shocked at seeing the time as she crossed the line, said afterwards:
It was absolutely the race of my life.
Things with my coach and I have been going really well and I am in such a happy and healthy place.
I am in shock but it does make sense with the training I've been doing.
HARVARD INVITATIONAL – CAMBRIDGE MA – JANUARY 30
Iolo Grant (Cardiff Archers/Northeastern University) continued his return from injury last season with an excellent performance in the USA.
The UK indoor silver medallist from last year ran 7.77 to finish second in the 60m hurdles at the Harvard Invitational – the fastest time by a British athlete so far in 2026.
GEORGE MASON PATRIOT GAMES – FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, JANUARY 30
Lloyd Sheppard-Brown (George Mason/Cardiff Athletics) clocked 14:21.93 winning over 5,000m in the United States. Sheppard-Brown crossed the line more than 10 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.
SCOTTISH ATHLETICS INDOOR EAP INTERNATIONAL – GLASGOW, JANUARY 31
Sprinter Louisa Stoney (Belgrave Harriers) grabbed the headlines as Welsh athletes travelled to Glasgow – the city where the Commonwealth Games will be hosted later this year.
Competing in a high quality 400m field, including Olympic and World Championships medallist Laviai Nielsen, Stoney stormed to a brilliant new personal best of 52:08 – the fastest time of the day.
The time strengthened Stoney’s place at the top of the UK 400m rankings in 2026.
Also in the women’s 400m, Tess McHugh (Sale Harriers) posted the fifth fastest time on the day with 52.99. Hannah Brier (Swansea Harriers), who will be hoping to return to Glasgow for a third Commonwealth Games in the summer ran 53.47.
In the men’s 800m, Eddie Hunter (Leeds City Athletic Club) was third in his heat, registering 1:49.67.
BUCS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS – LOUGHBOROUGH, JANUARY 31
Welsh athletes were amongst the team medals at the BUCS Cross Country Championships in Loughborough on Saturday.
In the men’s long course race, Tom Wood (Oxford University) finished 13th overall in 34:45 and was part of the gold medal winning team.
Cardiff University was the leading Welsh team, finishing eighth.
In the women’s long course event, Beth Rawlinson (Oxford University) was 20th overall in 30:57, helping her team win bronze.
In the men’s short course, Joe Rees-Gara (Loughborough) finished fourth overall in 27:41 as his team won gold.
LOUGHBOROUGH INDOOR OPEN – JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 1
On Saturday, National Development Programme athlete Olivia Scrimshaw (Deeside AAC) claimed a season’s best in her 60m hurdles heat, stopping the clock at 8.92, before going on to record a big new PB of 8.66 to win the E final.
Fellow NDP athlete Aidan Angilletta (Deeside AC) ran a season’s best 8.35 in his 60m hurdles heat before running 8.44 to finish third in the B final.
In the men’s 60m Under-17 athlete Lasitha Ekanayake (Deeside AAC) won his heat in 7.24, while Jack Choules (Birchfield Harriers) won in 7.30. In their respective finals, Ekanayake was fourth, again in 7.24, while Choules was third in a PB of 7.28.
Sunday saw Tom Walley (Wrexham AAC) produce a brilliant new PB of 5.30m to win Pool C of the men’s pole vault final.
Transition Programme athlete Jessica Lee (Thames Valley Harriers) win Pool B of the women’s long jump final with a best of 5.87m.
Aharon Graham-Mulvaney (Cardiff Athletics) finished fourth in Pool B of the men’s long jump final with a season’s best 6.14m.
WEST WALES INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY ONE - SWANSEA, JANUARY 31
Katriel Udoh (Swansea Harriers) carried on her gold-medal-winning form from the Welsh Junior Championships claiming two more titles in Swansea.
On Saturday, Udoh won the Under-15 girls long jump with a best of 5.40m and the Under-13 boys, Under-15 girls and Under-15 boys combined high jump with 1.60m.
Matilda Quick (Swansea Harriers), who last month set a new Welsh Under-20 pentathlon record, won the Under-17, Under-20 and Senior Women’s long jump with a best of 5.69m.
Quick also finished second overall in the Under-17 and above high jump with 1.70m. The competition was won by Ethan Hammond (Carmarthen Harriers) with 1.86m.
Mandikduza Mupita (Swansea Harriers) enjoyed an excellent day as he won the Under-15 and above triple jump with 11.20m and Under-15 boys, Under-17 men, Under-20 men and Senior Men’s long jump with 5.31m.
NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE (4) – SHREWSBURY, JANUARY 31
Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships marathoner Andy Davies (Maldwyn Harriers) led the field home in the men’s senior race as the league visited Shrewsbury.
Davies won in a time of 27:09, ahead of Dan Kashi (Meirionnydd RC) in 27:14 and Rhodri Owen (Meirionnydd RC) in 27:16.
The results see Meirionnyd RC maintain their lead at the top of Division One ahead of Buckley RC.
In the senior women’s race, Madeline Williams (Shrewsbury AC) claimed the honours on home ground in 21:20.
Second place went to Alison Lavender (Oswestry Olympians) in 21:56, while Martha Owen (Deeside AAC) was third in 22:14.
After four races, the women’s first division is led by Eryri Harriers from Deeside AAC.
In the junior league races, the Under-15 boys event was won by Isaac Garcia Lucas (Deeside AAC) in 15:27, followed by Thomas Meadon (Colwyn Bay AC) in 15:58 and Harry Borthwick (Oswestry Olympians) in 16:26.
Martha Bown (Menai Track and Field) was a comfortable winner of the Under-15 girls race as she broke the tape in 12:49 – exactly a minute ahead of Nia Manson (West Cheshire AC). Bethan Roberts (Deeside AAC) was third in 14:08.
BRIAN J GOUGH REVERSE 10 – CAERPHILLY, FEBRUARY 1
The Brian J Gough Reverse 10 is run on a 10-mile mixed terrain course through Parc Penallta, starting and finishing at Penallta House.
The men’s race was won by Lewis Munro (Islwyn Running Club) in 53:50 ahead of Dane Williams (Parc Bryn Bach RC) in 55:48 and Lee Drew (Lliswerry Runners) in 56:40.
The winner of the women’s race was Sioned Howells (Swansea Harriers) who completed the undulating course in 1:04.11. Sally Pugsley (Porthcawl Runners) was second in 1:05.36 and Megan Poulson (San Domenico RC) third in 1:10.58.
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