ATHLETICS
PORTHCAWL 5K PARKRUN
DAFYDD JONES (unattached) clocked up a personal best time last Saturday in winning the 252nd staging of Porthcawl 5k Parkrun, writes Tony Poole.
His second victory in 26 visits to the seaside town was achieved in a time of 18 minutes 34 seconds, and it was just inside a previous best 18:39 when triumphing in the 241st race back in November.
Runner-up Graeme Rand (Bridgend), who won the 247th staging of the event, last December, came home in 18:51. Thirdplaced Jordan Groves (unattached) completed the course in 19 minutes while the next 12 finishers also beat 20-minutes. Jeffrey Thomas (Bridgend) was fourth in 19:03, and he was followed across the finishing line by Daniel John- son (Aberystwyth) 19:06, Dave Bennett 19:10, Alun Williams (both Porthcawl Runners) pb 19:16, Ian Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 19:24, Richard Self (Les Croupiers) pb 19:28, Geraint Lewis (Porthcawl Runners) 19:36, Dave Murray (Bridgend) 19:37, John Johnson (RAF) 19:40, Rhys Pippard (Pont-y-Pwl Runners) first-time competitor 19:42, Rob Hunt (Bridgend) 19:49 and Glenn Loosemore (unattached) pb 19:57.
Top female was once more Deborah Goule (Porthcawl Runners) who finished 23rd in 20:35 from Clare Hughes (Bridgend) 22:39 (43rd), Fleur Jones (Cornelly Striders) 22:46 (45th), Rachel Hopkins 22:55 (50th) and Sarah Spencer (both unattached) 23:02 (53rd).
MAESTEG 5K PARKRUN
ROWAN HOBBS made it a magnificent seven successive wins in Maesteg 5k Parkrun last Saturday.
In 15 visits to the Llynfi Valley, the member of the Brackla Harriers club has chalked up 10 victories with the latest achieved in a time of 19 minutes 11 seconds.
His Brackla Harriers team-mate Jacob Griffiths, who was appearing in the Welfare Park for a first time, pushed him all the way to complete the course in 20:07
Third-placed James Littlewood (Ogmore Phoenix Runners) clocked 20:51 while another first-timer, Alan Wilcox (North Bristol Running Club) was done and dusted in 20:58.
Former winner Niki Puleio (Ogmore Phoenix Runners) was fifth in 21:02 from Matthew Bunce (Brackla Harriers) 21:48, Paul Kearns (unattached) 21:54, Steven Preddy (Les Croupiers) first-timer 21:57, Kevin Williams (unattached) pb 22:07 and top female in 10th position Charlotte Johns (Brackla Harriers) 22:20.
The next four female finishers were Jennifer Martin (Les Croupiers) first-timer 23:06 (14th), Libby Lavis (Bridgend) 24:51 (18th), Andrea Evans pb 25:13 (19th) and Leanne Purnell (both unattached) pb 25:53 (22nd).
WEST GLAMORGAN CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE
BRIDGEND runner Morgan Davies won the penultimate leg of this season’s West Glamorgan Cross Country League.
Staged in Margam Park and organised by the Run4All club in Neath, Davies was first past the post in a time of 29 minutes 47 seconds.
Misty and muddy conditions around the grounds of Margam Park greeted competitors with James Hockin (Wuuss Triathlon) runner-up in 30:51 while James Carpenter (Neath Harries) screwed down third position in a time of 31:13.
The remaining top10 places went to James Dean (unattached) 31:25, Andrew Reynolds (Neath Harriers) 31:51, Gareth Ayres (Port Talbot Harriers) 32:34, Dave Keenan (Llanelli AC) 32:36, Ifan Lloyd (Swansea Harriers) 32:59, Adam Jelf (Swansea Vale Runners) 33:12 and John Moran (Swansea Harriers) 33:16.
The final event on the West Glamorgan calendar is the Aberavon Beach event organised by Port Talbot Harriers and this is being held on March 4.
BRIDGEND JUNIOR 2K PARKRUN
JACK O’BRIEN (Bridgend) last Sunday notched up a remark- able 26th victory in 63 visits to Bridgend Junior 2k Parkrun at Newbridge Fields.
While his personal best time (pb) remains seven minutes 33 seconds - recorded in winning the 65th event back in November 2016 - this time around he completed the course in eight minutes exactly.
Runner-up and twotime winner Joshua Morgan (Bridgend) clocked 8:39 which was just outside his best of 8:19 that he registered during his first race win on June 6, 2017.
Third place went to Matthew Bridges in nine minutes while Leroy Griffiths (Rhondda) was next to finish in 9:06.
Top female in fifth spot was Mia Allen (Bridgend) in 9:21 while the next eight young runners were also inside or on the 10-minute button.
They comprised Wil- low Hughes 9:34, Niamh O’Brien 9:40, Joanna Ellis (both Bridgend) 9:40, Benjamin Davies 9:47, Katie Blower 9:49, Joseph Winstone 9:56, Freya Allen (Bridgend) 9:57 and Ryan Ellis 10:00.
A dozen personal best times were clocked, and they came from Connie Griffiths, Delyth Dickson, Joseph McDowell, Joseph Lewis, Phoebe Lewis, Finlay Moore, Rebecca Thomas, Ava Lewis, Sophie Howe, Aisen Murray (Ogmore Phoenix Runners), Nathan Lewis and Sky Rees.