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Weekend Round-Up (6 - 7 December)
08/12/2025 00:00, In Blog /
HBCU AND IVY LEAGUE CHALLENGE – BOSTON, USA, DECEMBER 5
Hurdler Iolo Grant (Cardiff Archers) made a spectacular start to his collegiate career for Northeastern University in Boston on Friday.
The Welsh Senior and Under-20 indoor champion raced to victory in the 60m hurdles in 7.91.
Grant, who narrowly missed out on winning gold at the UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham back in February, was just 0.8 second outside his PB on Friday.
JOHN H COLLINS GWENT CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE – BLAISE CASTLE, BRISTOL, DECEMBER 6
Fixture three of the John H. Collins Gwent Cross Country League was held at Blaise Castle, Bristol on Saturday.
The senior men’s race was won by Alex Stewart (Bristol University) in 29:52 with Ben Rawlins (Westbury Harriers) second in 30:10 and Matt Grantham (Parc Bryn Bach) 30:25 was third.
Rosie Hamilton-James (Westbury Harriers) won the senior women’s race in 25:26 ahead of an unknown Newport Harriers runner in 26:46 and Katrina Entwistle (Bristol and West) in 26:53.
Amongst the age group races, Lila Beazley-Long (Westbury Harriers) won the women’s under-17/under-20 race in 17:49, a fraction ahead of Amelia Williams (Carmarthen Harriers) who registered the same time. Sioned John (Swansea Harriers) was third in 17:59.
Leo Darlington (North Somerset) won the under-17/20 men’s race in 17:03 ahead of Ifan Bowen (Carmarthen Harriers) in 17:10 and Sam Boyce (Cardiff Athletics), who also clocked 17:10.
There was a clean sweep for Welsh clubs in the under-15 boys race with Nate Greig (Bridgend Athletics) claiming the win 12:59. Oliver Cobbold (Swansea Harriers) was second in 13:13 with Ioan Vale (Aberdare Valley) third in 13:15.
Elizabeth Hutchings (Westbury Harriers) won the under-15 girls race in 14:48 with Freya Smith (Bristol and West) second in 15:03 and Agnes Alexander (North Somerset) third in 15:11.
BRITISH SCHOOLS COMBINED EVENTS INTERNATIONAL – GLASGOW, DECEMBER 6
A nine strong Welsh team returned from Scotland with 28 individual event personal bests and seven points total personal bests.
Among the stand-out Welsh performers was Welsh Athletics National Development Programme multi-eventer Tiana Odugbesan, who finished seventh overall in the over 16 girls competition against the best athletes from England, Scotland and Ireland.
The Cardiff Archer and girls team captain produced a new personal best total of 3,554. Her results across the five events were: shot put – 10.54m; 60m hurdles – 8.80; long jump 5.82cm, high jump – 1.48m; 800m 2:34.09.
In the over-16 boys competition, Macsen Martins-Hughes (Cardiff Archers) finished eighth overall with a new points personal best of 3,308.
The boys team captain’s individual performances over the five events were 60m hurdles – 8.57; shot put - 10.54m; 200m - 23.02; long jump – 6.54m; 800m - 2:19.62.
VALENCIA MARATHON – DECEMBER 7
Natasha Wilson (Micky Morris Racing Team) regained the Welsh marathon record with a brilliant performance in Valencia on Sunday morning.
The Commonwealth Games athlete had previously set the Welsh record at Valencia in 2022, only to see it broken when Olympic marathoner Clara Evans-Graham (Pontypridd Roadents) set a new national best of 2:25.01 at the same event in 2023.
But Wilson is once again at the top of the all-time Welsh rankings after she ran 2:24.21 to smash the record and her previous best of 2:26.14 to place 10th overall in a quality international field.
The time puts Wilson 10th in the UK all-time marathon rankings, which are still led by former world record holder Paula Ratcliffe with 2:15.25.
Wilson was part of a six-strong Welsh team which travelled to compete in Spain. The other finishers from the official team in the women’s race were Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents), who clocked 2:38.13 and Emily Marchant (Swansea Harriers) who crossed the line in 2:38.58.
The top male finisher from the Welsh team was Great Britain international Dan Nash (Pontypridd Roadents) who registered 2:14.03, ahead of Chris Thomas (Thames Valley Harriers) in 2:14.59 and Dan Hamilton (Pontypridd Roadents) in 2:16.48.
Other Welsh results included World Championships and Commonwealth Games marathoner Andy Davies (Maldwyn), who returned 2:18.46, Tomos Roberts (Meirionnydd) 2:22.47 and Adam Bull (Pontypridd Roadents) with a big PB of 2:23.29.
Commonwealth Games athlete Jenny Nesbitt (Pontypridd Roadents) clocked 2:32.48 on her marathon debut.
ABERYSTWYTH CHARITY 10K – DECEMBER 7
The Aberystwyth Charity 10k is a fast, flat race following roads and paths around the town that takes runners along the promenade, through the harbour, and around the Rheidol river's edge to finish back on the promenade.
The winner of this year’s men’s race was Oliver Thorogood (South West Road Runners) who completed the course in 32:04. David Cole (Cardigan RC) was second in 32:16 and Isaac Mignononfrey third in 32:25.
The winner of the women’s race was Donna Morris (Builth and District) who led the field home by a significant margin in 36:12. Next to finish was Kristie O’Connell-James in 38:54, ahead of Amy Comline in 39:37.
WELSH ATHLETICS JUNIOR INDOOR OPEN 1 – CARDIFF, NOVEMBER 7
Almost 400 athletes aged from under-13 to under-17 kicked off the indoor season in at the first Welsh Athletics Junior Indoor Open at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cardiff.
The event saw a number of excellent performances across the age groups.
In the under-15 girls age group Olympia Murray (Cardiff Archers) won the long jump with a new personal best of 5.07m and finished second in the 200m to fellow Archer Olivia Thomas, who clocked a PB of 26.07.
The under-15 boys age group saw Dylan Holmes (Cardiff Archers) win the triple jump with a new PB of 11.16m and finish second in the shot put with 8.88m. The competition was won by Josheph Sutherland (Yate and District AC) with 10.03m.
The boys under-17 200m was won by Oliver Shearer (Cardiff Athletics) while the honours in the under-17 women’s 200m went to clubmate Abbi Beadle (Cardiff Athletics) in 26.28.
The under-13 boys shot put was won by Ellis Cole (Blaenau Gwent Athletics) with a new PB of 8.89m. The under-13 girls 200m, which attracted 37 entries was won by Mia Thomas (Neath Athletics) in a PB of 28.84.
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Photo Credit: @jerry_sun (Instagram)