Manon just denied victory after thrilling solo bid
TAF Running and Orienteering started the 2022-23 season with the first fixture of the Gwent Cross Country League at Llandaff Fields in Cardiff.
The event incorporated the UK Athletics Cross Challenge.
In the first race of the day, Manon Phillips made an exciting bid for glory in the under-11 girls’ race, going to the front and holding her position until the closing stages. It was only then that she was overhauled by three West Country athletes in a sprint for the tape.
She had the consolation of being the first Cross Challenge entrant over the line, a full minute faster than the time she recorded on the same course a year ago.
Phillips was joined in this race by clubmates Mabli King in 29th and Alwena Morgan in 56th.
Maisie Foster and Gwenno Powell were 33rd and 71st in the under-13 girls’ race, and Hanna Powell was 70th in the under-15 girls’ event.
The club’s youngest representative, nine-year-old Caio Davies, completed his first cross country race, finishing 70th in the under-11 boys’ race.
In the senior women’s race, Mel Holliday was 95th, Lindy Eynon 102nd, Jessica Hobson-Taylor 145th, Mair Morgan 175th and Bridget Moseley 298th.
The F55 team finished second, just two points behind Cardiff team Les Croupiers.
Ryan Manders and Luke Evans completed the senior men’s race, both finishing in the top half of the 600-strong field in 129th and 263rd.
A number of Trots runners have contested big city road races. Richard
Phillips travelled furthest afield to the USA, completing the Chicago Marathon in three hours 33 minutes to finish 7,525th.
Meanwhile, Mary Anthony was third F60 in the Lisbon Half Marathon, finishing 1,306th in one hour 49 minutes.
Much closer to home, Simon Williams clocked a time of three hours 50 minutes in the London Marathon in 10,036th.
Twelve Trots runners took part in the Cardiff Half Marathon. They were Aled Jones-Davies (1:31), Dewi Snelson (1:36), Matthew Williams (1:58), Keith Powell (2:02), Ceri Jenkins (2:07), Jacqueline Hinds (2:07), Janette Jenkins (2:13), Margaret Powell (2:24), Caron McKee Hands (2:25), Yvonne Davies (2:30), Liz James (2:36) and Angharad Dew (2:43).