2nd October 2017
WEEKEND UPDATE
Cardiff Half Marathon, Cardiff, Sunday 1 October
Dewi Griffiths (coach: Kevin Evans) continued his sublime run of form with yet another personal best as he competed at home in Wales for the second weekend running.
Stepping back up to the half marathon after a 10km personal best of 28.28 at the Swansea 10k, Griffiths started off conservatively, before moving through the field to finish fourth, the only non-African in the top ten. It was the time that meant the most though, his 61.33 run taking over a minute off the personal best he set at the Great North Run just last month. He moves up to third on the Power of 10 behind Callum Hawkins and Mo Farah and twelfth on the UK all-time list.
In the Welsh Championships, Charlie Hulson (Steve Vernon) continued his return to form after injury with silver in 65.33, his debut over the half marathon, with GB marathoner Josh Griffiths just five seconds back.
In the women’s race, Jenny Nesbit (David Walker) was first Brit in fifth, winning her first Welsh title. She stopped the clock at 73.22, just short of her personal best, and moves to fourth on the Power of 10 for 2017.
In the wheelchair race Mel Nicholls (Job King) was a clear winner in 59.42, a well-paced effort.
Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run, Sunday 1 October
Chris Thompson (Mark Rowland/Alan Storey) got the better of pre-race favourite Callum Hawkins (Robert Hawkins) to take the Great Scottish Run half marathon title. A dominant display saw an in-form Thompson returning to something like his best, as after a solo run he broke the tape in 62.44. Hawkins needed a sprint finish to get the better of his Rio 2016 marathon teammate Tsegai Tewelde, both men running 63.18.
The women’s race saw Kenyan Flomena Daniel take the win ahead of Charlotte Purdue (Nic Bideau), the Aldershot, Farnham and District athlete clocking 72.18, just three seconds shy of her season’s best. Bronze went to Fionnuala Ross, the Northern Irishwoman smashing her personal best with a 74.26 effort.
In the women’s 10km wheelchair race Sammi Kinghorn (Ian Mirfin) overcame a wrist injury to take the win in 29.45 as she gears up for her marathon debut in Chicago. Back with the half marathon T46 athlete Derek Rae was in fine form as he produced an impressive 70.06 personal best, good for 15th overall.
Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, Indiana, USA, Friday 29 September
GB U23 internationals Alice Wright (Joe Franklin) and Bethan Knights (Shayla Houlihan) were second and fifth at one of the big American collegiate invitational meets, as the cross country season starts to gather pace. In the men’s race European U23 steeplechase medallist Jamaine Coleman (Andy Bibby) was the first Brit home crossing the line in eleventh place, with Josh Kerr (Joe Franklin) a solid 18th.
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