HUNDREDS AT TWO-DAY EVENT
AROUND 350 athletes from West Wales visited Carmarthen for the two-day Dyfed Secondary Schools Athletics Championships.
Spaces at Cardiff’s Welsh Schools National Championships were up for grabs in the junior, middle and senior categories.
Athletes from Pembrokeshire, Brianne, Llanelli and Ceredigion took the spotlight. While there were plenty of club runners from Pembrokeshire, Carmarthen, Llanelli and Swansea present, it was also the opportunity for the less experienced schoolchildren to take part in a major competition.
The top finishers in each event from the four area championships held in May in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Haverfordwest qualified to compete and represent their area at the two-day programme.
The action got under way at a rainsoaked Carmarthen on Friday where the first five events were held. These included the 300m and 400m hurdles, 1k walk and 3000m along with the hammer in the field.
Then all roads from Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire led to Johnstown early on Saturday morning where the first set of events began as early as 10am on the field, while the sprint hurdles took place on the track.
There were a host of sprint events on the track, while runners also took part in the 800m, 1500m and steeplechase. Field events included the long jump, triple jump, shot and javelin.
The Dyfed Schools team for the championships in Cardiff on July 6 was selected at the end of the second day and letters have been posted to the athletes and reserves.
It will feature teams from Afan Nedd Tawe, Cardiff & Vale, Dyfed, Eryri, Glamorgan Valleys, North East Wales, Powys and South East Wales. The championships again form part of the Urdd’s Gemau Cymru MultiSport Festival in the capital.
This week, many of the pupils will be back in action at Haverfordwest High School. The 2019 edition of the Dyfed Schools U14 and U16 NASUWT Cup finals takes place at the home of Pembrokeshire Harriers, as the busy schools athletics summer season continues.
A total of 32 teams will be in attendance ready for battle, with the leading two schools in each of the four age groups at the end of the programme booking their spots at the Welsh National finals in Brecon on July 10.