Hundreds of runners tackle a ‘Great Welsh Marathon’
MARATHON season is under way and runners from across the UK and beyond descended on Llanelli on Sunday for the Great Welsh Marathon.
Starting at Festival Fields, the event saw a full marathon as well as a half.
A field of runners totalling around 1,500 took part and it was organised by Swansea-based Front Runner Events and backed by Carmarthenshire Council.
The fast, flat course saw runners enjoy a scenic route heading out along the Millennium Coastal Path with view of Llanelli Beach, the Loughor Estuary and Gower peninsula.
Organisers said there were some great times recorded by runners, despite windy conditions around the course.
Winner of the male marathon was Gethin Davies, coming across the line at 2 hours, 45 minutes and 44 seconds.
Finishing second was Joseph Murray with a time of 2 hours, 46 minutes and 13 seconds; and in third place was Richard Foster with a time of 2 hours, 49 minutes and 5 seconds.
Katie Warren won the female marathon, finishing with a time of 3 hours, 4 minutes and 7 seconds. Lizzie Dimond, who crossed the line at 3 hours, 12 minutes and 7 seconds, was second, while third place went to Crystal Goecker with a time of 3 hours, 12 minutes and 15 seconds.
In the half marathon, the top three finishers in the female section were Melanie Wilkins with a time of 1 hour, 18 minutes and 18 seconds; Carys Mai Hughes was second,
recording a time of 1 hour, 21 minutes and 19 seconds.
In third place was Amy Evans with a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes and 29 seconds.
While in the men’s half marathon Luke Williams crossed the line with a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 19 seconds; Dean Summers was second at 1 hour, 16 minutes and 43 seconds.
Third place was clinched by Finn Arentz who finished with a time of 1 hour 17 minues and 29 seconds. David MartinJewell, managing director at Front Runner Events, said he was thrilled to be staging the third edition of the Great Welsh Marathon and its half marathon.
He said the event had attracted runners from all over the UK and overseas, with 15 nations represented in the event’s greatest field of international runners so far.
He added: “This race offers a great course for everyone.”