22 October 2013

Dewi Griffiths (coach: Kevin Evans) was the standout performer when the 2012 Cross Challenge series got underway in Bristol last October where he ran away from an experienced field to take victory in the senior men’s race.

One year on, the Swansea Harrier is in fine form once again following a recovery from illness and injury and largely helped by a month spent training under the tutelage of fellow Welshman and former marathon world record holder Steve Jones in Boulder, Colorado.

“I was pleased with how I ran at the relays and I’ve had a good week after that so I’m feeling good,” he said of his third fastest leg performance at Sutton Park ten days ago.

“It was a really good experience, I spent most of September out there and it was great experience for me. He’s got a lot to pass on and he’s very open; everything I asked him he was happy to answer which was really good.

“I had a good training block and I’ve managed to maintain it since I came back. I was suffering with what turned out to be an iron and vitamin D deficiency in the spring and then had a plantar fascia problem at the start of the summer so I didn’t really start training properly until August.”

When he lines up at Ashton Court on Sunday, Griffiths is keen to repeat his success from 12 months ago, where he defeated Biniam Ande and Frank Tickner (Clive Thomas) by nine seconds.

He continued: “The aim is definitely for a repeat of my win last year. It’s a good marker for the start of the season and a course that I really enjoy doing.”

The 22 year old is still in the under 23 age group for the European Cross Country Championships which take place in Belgrade, Serbia, in December and he is hoping to build on his 38th place finish in Budapest last year. He will then look ahead to the Commonwealth Games where he hopes to run for Wales in the 10,000m.

“The European Cross Country Championships are the big target from here until Christmas and I’m definitely looking to run well at the trial in Liverpool and then on to the Champs.”

With a medal collection that includes numerous Welsh cross country titles, Griffiths sees the mud and hills of cross country as a vital part of his year and something that he hopes to continue to excel at.

“My year is always structured around cross country in the winner and track in the summer. It definitely helps me in the summer and vice versa, it’s a really important part of my year. At the moment I’m excited for cross country because I haven’t done it for so long and I probably have more success in cross country.”

For more information on the British Athletics Cross  Challenge click here.