4th March 2019

WEEKEND UPDATE

Welsh Athletics Shot in the Dark Open, Cardiff, Saturday 2 March 

Aled Davies (Ryan Spencer Jones, Cardiff), was just 1cm underneath his indoor world record and personal best with a throw of 16.11m on Saturday.

It was significant season’s best and a great confidence booster for the Welshman.

Results

 

Welsh Athletics International, Cardiff, Sunday 3 March

In the men’s long jump, European U18 gold medallist in the high jump, Dominic Ogbechie (Marius Guie, Highgate) leaped a huge personal best on the long jump, measuring a mark of 7.66m. He had already set a PB earlier this season, with a 7.59m mark in Sheffield but he continued his fine form to continue his improvement.

Jonnie Peacock (Michael Khmel, Charnwood) continued his indoor season by clocking 7.30 over 60m, just 0.04s outside his season’s best.

In a separate 60m heat, there was a PB of 7.59 for Welshman, Rhy Jones (Christian Malcolm, DSW Para Academy). The T37 athlete took another 0.04s off his previous best which he set back in January.

Lewis Byng (Stuart Carlaw, Stratford-upon-Avon) won the shot put overall with a throw of 17.61m while Serena Vincent (Bronwin Carter, City of Portsmouth) won the women’s equivalent in 14.68m.

Results

 

England Athletics 10km Race Walking Championships, University of Warwick, Coventry, Sunday 3 March

Despite windy and wet conditions, Commonwealth Silver Medallist Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake; Tonbridge AC) opened his road campaign for 2019 with victory over the testing course at the University of Warwick.

Bosworth set the early pace but was joined by Cameron Corbishley (Andi Drake; Medway & Maidstone) at the 4km mark. After walking together for a lap, Bosworth pulled away. Corbishley visited the pit lane to serve a minute penalty at the 9km mark, leaving Bosworth to cruise around the last lap to take the England title in 41.26 to go top of the UK rankings. Bosworth said: “I haven’t felt that great this week, but it is good to get back on the road”.

Corbishley took the silver medal in 42.51 to move to 2nd on the UK Rankings. Chris Snook (Verity Snook; Aldershot & Farnham) walked the early laps alongside Tom Partington (Steve Partington; Manx Harriers), but pulled away at the 3km mark to take the bronze medal in the England Championships in his second fastest ever 10km of 44.29, which was well inside the British Athletics qualifying time for the European Race Walking Cup (45.00).

Tom Partington took fourth while George Wilkinson (Enfield & Haringey) set a personal best of 48.21 to move to second on the UK U20 rankings as did Matthew Crane (Bexley AC) 48.53 in moving to third on the rankings.

In the women’s 10km, the early pace was set by Bethan Davies (Andi Drake; Cardiff AC) and British Indoor Champion Heather Lewis (Chris Jones; Pembrokeshire). Lewis pulled away just before the halfway mark to record a personal best of 46.25. This moved her up to 9th on the UK All Time list and puts her top of the UK rankings for 2019. It was also inside the British Athletics qualifying mark of 47.30 for the European Race Walking Cup.

Behind her Davies clocked 46.59 also inside the British Athletics standard. Erika Kelly (Andi Drake; Northern AC) took the England title by finishing third in the race and clocking a big personal best of 47.19 to move to 13th on the UK all-time list. She was also importantly inside the British Athletics standard for the European Cup Race Walking.

Gemma Bridge (Mark Wall; Oxford City) took the silver medal in 49.04. Under 20 Anna Garcia (Mark Wall; Sheffield & Dearne) took third in her second fastest ever time of 52.33 to move to the top of the UK Rankings for 2019. Behind her fellow under 20 athlete, Abigail Jennings (Verity Snook; Aldershot & Farnham), recorded her second fastest ever time of 53.39 to move to second in the UK Rankings for 2019 and Pagen Spooner (Andi Drake; Hyde Park Harriers) recorded a huge personal beat of 54.19 to move to third on the UK Rankings.

 

Start Fitness Gwent League, Bristol, 2 March

Steve Morris (James Thie, Cardiff) became the first para athlete to Win a Gwent League cross country title, following a series of consistent performances across the five fixtures.

A sixth-place finish on Saturday left him top of the standings, taking the trophy home.

Results