PEMBREY HOSTS TOP RUNNERS
FORTY of Wales’s leading crosscountry youngsters finished their 2021-22 winter season at the annual SIAB Schools Athletic Board Cross Country International in Carmarthenshire.
The event was staged for the first time in three years and hosted by Wales at Pembrey Country Park.
Pupils from Welsh Schools, English Schools, Irish Schools and Scottish Schools took part across six events using a new, challenging and undulating course.
There were junior and intermediate girls and boys’ long races, as well as the return of the popular 4x1500m mixed relays and a primary school challenge.
Carmarthen Harriers William Coles (Ysgol Bro Dinefwr), Joshua Barnett (Ysgol Dyffryn Taf ), Iwan Thomas (Ysgol Glan y Môr), Finley Bruce (Ysgol y Preseli) and Ifan Bowen (Ysgol Bro Myrddin) were selected to represent Welsh Schools in the junior and inter boys’ categories on home turf.
Tomos Cai Davies (6:39), Gethin Thomas (6:45), Ellis Mathews (7:06), Evan Enoch (7:31), Paige-lily Williams (8:02) and Maximus Edwards (8:26) competed in the primary school races over 1500m.
Joan Goldsmith was among the Welsh Schools management team.
The long-awaited SIAB Schools U17 Track and Field International will also be returning this summer, hosted by Irish Schools in Belfast in mid-july.
Elsewhere, Carmarthen Harriers and Llanelli Athletics Club runners were out in force at the first of two Cardiff University half-marathon editions this year.
Thirty-seven senior athletes of all abilities completed the 13.1-mile distance around the streets of the Welsh capital.
Finishing times: Cameron Young (1:12:24), Dean Summers (1:16:15), Mark Harrison (1:16:24), Jack Tremlett (1:16:42), Isaac Ayres (1:19:53), Jamie Stedman (1:25:25), Elizabeth
Tremlett (1:30:38), Huw Davies (1:31:49), Wendy Price (1:33:50), Ellie Kiff (1:34:25), Rob Davies (1:35:37), Martin Flear (1:36:08), Jeff Evans (1:36:23), Dafydd Bowen (1:36:38), Craig Hopkins (1:37:52), Keri Phillips (1:38:38), Stuart O’bree (1:38:41), Jason Dickinson (1:38:52), Roxanne Turner (1:40:38), Chris Totterdale (1:43:21), Simon Davies (1:49:18), Lorna Evans (1:50:22), Anne Jones (1:52:24), Cerys Davies (1:56:07), Phillip Thomas (2:00:52), Vanessa Buckler (2:02:03), Alona Evans (2:09:50), Philip Lancey (2:12:50),
Christina Deakin (2:15:21), Jody Williams (2:23:13), Lorna Powell (2:23:13), Simon Kingsnorth (2:26:32), Amanda Toogood (2:26:48), Michael Halsall (2:28:51), Rachel Evans (2:34:06), Jacky Lewis (2:48:48), Liam Thorley (3:33:43).
The Cardiff Half junior event saw Jake Lynock win the one-mile future challengers race in 4:55, with Esme Lynock (6:06) and Lowri Morgan (6:29) also finishing in the top four of their respective age groups.
Noa Jac Thomas completed the junior fun run in 8:22.