1st October 2014

Cardiff Poised For Penultimate Runbritain Grand Prix

The fifth and penultimate race in the 2014 runbritain Grand Prix sees runners head west this weekend for the Cardiff Half Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 5 October and incorporates the British Half Marathon Championships. Now in its eleventh year, the race played a major role in ensuring that the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships will be held in the city in 2016, thanks largely due to its growth from 1500 runners in 2003, to almost 20,000 in 2013. This year’s edition promises to be even bigger and better, as the autumn road racing scene hits its stride.

With the women’s runbritain grand prix leader Samantha Amend missing the event, there is a chance for others to bridge the gap, namely British champion from the event last year, Tish Jones (Will Cockerell). She finished second at the Reading Half Marathon earlier this year in a new personal  best of 72:55, so will be looking to continue her good form in the runbritain grand prix races.

Rebecca Robinson, competing again after finishing fourteenth and making up part of the silver medal winning Great Britain & Northern Ireland team at the World Mountain Running Championships last month is also likely to pose a threat. She won the Bristol Half Marathon earlier this year and when you throw in Emma Stepto (Alan Rowling) and Emily Wicks (Keith Donkin) who are second and third in the standings at present, the race should be a good one.

The men’s race will see the return of Loitarakwa Lengurisi, the defending champion. He holds the course record of 61:51 and will start as the favourite again. His biggest challenge is likely to come from Ugandan Ben Siwa, who won the Bristol Half Marathon earlier this year in a time of 63.55.

Current leader of the men’s runbritain grand prix Scott Overall (Alan Storey) is absent from the race in Cardiff after his exploits at the Berlin marathon last weekend, which opens the door for others to earn valuable points ahead of the final showdown at the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k in November.

Paul Martelleti is currently second in the rankings so he will be seeking much needed points, whilst Nick Torry will return to the course where he set his 64.23 personal best last year – he is currently third overall. Throw in the likes of Phil Wicks (Keith Donkin), John Beattie (Gavin Smith) and Ryan McLeod and the stage is set for a great race on the day.

Grand Prix points are awarded for the first 250 finishing positions. 250 points will be awarded for the first British finisher, down to 1 point for the 250th British finisher. There are extra points available for men who run faster than 65 minutes and women who run faster than 71 minutes. Up to the best four scores from the six available races count at the end of the series. If an athlete scores points in less than four Grand Prix events, their best two, three or single score will count towards the final standings. Prize money totals £18,000 and is shared by the top 10 male and female British runners at the end of the series.