JENKINS IMPRESSIVE IN HER BIG COMEBACK RACE
HELEN Jenkins turned in a stunning performance to finish fourth female in last week’s Dubai Ironman 70.3, writes Tony Poole.
The 35-year-old from Bridgend, who was competing in a first major event since 2016, registered a superb time of 4:08:02.
She clocked 24:46 for a 1.9K swim; the 90K bike ride was completed in 2:12:41 while a 21.1K run produced a time of 1:25:52.
First female home was Imogen Simmonds (Switzerland) in 3:58:37 while the event was won by Bart Aernouts (Belgium) in a time of 3:33:45.
But to put Helen’s display in context, it came against a background of her giving birth to second child Max just eight months ago, and a question mark regarding future participation in major competitions following spinal surgery.
Little in the way of training was done ahead of Dubai Ironman, and afterwards she was in a reflective mood.
“Following surgery two years ago, I was happy with what I’d achieved in the Olympic Games and World Championships – now it’s a case of everything being a bonus” she explained. ARMAGH INTERNATIONAL ROAD RACES
BRIDGEND runners Jonathan Hopkins (Swansea Harriers) and James Hunt (Cardiff AAC) have been selected to represent Wales tomorrow (Thursday) in the Brooks Armagh International Road Races at The Mall.
They are included in a four-strong Welsh Seniors team for the 5K race along with Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) and Matthew Willis (Wrexham).
The Armagh Road Races - now in their 31st year - are dubbed the fastest 5k races in the world. PORTHCAWL 5K PARKRUN
RHYS Francis (Brackla Harriers) last Saturday pulled off a magnificent seventh Porthcawl 5K Parkrun during the 353rd staging of the event along the Wales Coastal Path.
He clocked 16:40 which was a mere four seconds outside a personal best that was achieved last December.
Runner-up Dai James (Ogmore
Phoenix) registered a pb time of 17:42, and he was followed home by Dave Moore (Brackla Harriers) 18:41, Jeffrey Thomas (Bridgend) 18:52, Jack Evans (unattached) 19:00, Kieran Jenkins (Cornelly Striders) 19:26, Rhys Griffith pb 19:29, Connor Mantell pb 19:39, Jamie Harrowing (all unattached) 19:41, William Edwards 19:54, Dave Bennett (both Porthcawl Runners) 19:55 and Ricky-Lee Howell (unattached) pb 20:00.
First female across the finishing line in 21st position was Zoe Jennet Thomas (unattached) 20:31 ahead of Laura Gush (Bridgend) 20:56 (29th), Sally Freeman (Almost Athletes) first-time competitor 20:57 (30th), Deborah Roberts-Goule (Porthcawl Runners) 21:10 (37th), Sarah Cross (unattached) 21:43 (48th) and Erin Andrews (Cardiff Archers) 21:47 (49th). MAESTEG 5K PARKRUN
ADRIAN Cartlidge (Pencoed Tri Club) was last Saturday successful in the 127th staging of Maesteg 5K Parkrun in the Welfare Park.
His winning time was 19:12, and behind him came newcomer Steve Hogan (Cornelly Striders) 19:30, Peter Hartley-Green (unattached) pb 20:07, Paul Speyer (Brackla Harriers) 20:27, Adrian Pearce 20:52, Aled Hughes (both Ogmore Phoenix) 21:10, Nicholas Finch (unattached) 21:10, top female Louise Mordue pb 23:26, Gareth Mole (both Porthcawl Runners) pb 24:12 and Libby Lavis (Brackla Harriers) 24:24.
Other decent female times came from Kaitlin O’Neill (unattached) 24:49 (12th), Louise Hogan pb 26:02 (25th) Diana Tudor (both Cornelly Striders) 28:03 (30th), Jane O’Neill (unattached) 28:25 (32nd), Judith Jeeves (Ogmore Phoenix) 28:36 (34th) and young Kitty James, in the 15-17 age category, who came 35th in a pb time of 28:44. COED CEFN-PWLL-DU 5K PARKRUN
OGMORE Phoenix members continue to visit new Parkrun events, and their travels last Saturday took them to Machen to compete in the fourth staging of the Coed Cefn-pwll-du event.
This time around five runners headed east with Paul Barrett leading them home in pb 26:43 (29th), Sarah Davies 28:27 (42nd), Chris Bimson 30:52 (59th), Dawn Hopkins 33:07 (77th) and Alexis Barrett pb 36:17 (99th).
The contest attracted 126 runners with Dafydd Robbins-Hill (unattached) winning for a third successive time. On this occasion he clocked 17:27, and had 40 seconds in hand over Kristian Walters (Pontypridd Roadents). ALANIC WORMS HEAD 10K
MATTHEW Gregory (Brackla Harriers) finished 17th in the Alanic Worms Head 10K that was staged at Rhossili on the Gower Peninsula.
He recorded a time of 50:00 in this multi-terrain run to become 15th in his age category with Joseph Reardon (Aberdare Valley) triumphant in 41:51.
Ogmore Phoenix members also competed with Luke Jones clocking 57:08 (10th in age category) and Chris Richards 64:39 (13th).
Rosie Thomas (unattached) was top female in 51:42 while Emma Lyons roared into second spot in her age category and Ogmore Phoenix colleague Sarah Davies was sixth in her bracket. BRIDGEND JUNIOR 2K PARKRUN
ALED James carded a personal best of 7:40 in winning Bridgend Junior 2K Parkrun for a second time in 22 starts.
The 130th staging of the event in Newbridge Fields saw him clip eight seconds off a previous best.
He edged out regular winner Dan May (Cornelly Striders), who was just seven seconds behind, with newcomer Danny-Ray Murdey (Saffron Athletics Club) third in 8:06.
A further nine young runners completed the course inside 10 minutes – Luke Woodhouse 8:15, Samuel Cubbage 8:51, Lewis Durston 9:09, top female Freya Allen (Bridgend) 9:12, Sam Boyce pb 9:16, Eloise Neenan 9:21, Gruffydd James 9:40, Barnaby Buckle first-time competitor 9:49 and Sean Bolland 9:57.
The event last Sunday was cancelled owing to Storm Ciara.