The flat and fast road race based in the Whitchurch suburb of Cardiff is becoming known for its incredible atmosphere, live music, street food, cars and flames and not least for fast racing. It was the racing however that provided the main attraction with 12 men going sub 15 and seven women sub 17.

This fourth edition incorporated an Inter-Area match where Wales faced competition from the Midland Counties, North of England, Northern Ireland & Ulster and the UK Armed Forces.

Thomas was able to exact his revenge on Jon Hopkins who had taken race victory 12 months ago to demote Thomas to second on that occasion. His time of 14:18 was just four seconds behind outright race winner, Uk Inter-Counties Cross Country Champion Adam Hickey. His 14:14 clocking was a new course record erasing the 14:18 mark set by Hopkins last year.

Hickey commented saying; ‘ I was pleased with that. I always enjoy coming here and have raced un Cardiff several times in the past. The races here are always very well organised. It was great to win this evening’.

Swansea Harrier Guy Smith was the next athlete home in fourth outright but as the third man home in the Championship race.

Clara Evans just keeps improving

Clara Evans has improved considerably over the last 12 months and a 72:52 posting in the Barcelona Half Marathon earlier this year has announced her as a serious contender amongst domestic competition.

Her winning time of 16:04 was enough for the title and the race win outright.

‘I was happy with that’ said Evans. I’ve been training with the Welsh camp in Alburquee and was glad to see what kind of shape I was in’.

The next athlete home was Welsh team mate Jade Williams in 16:22, followed home by Elinor Kirk running for Swansea Harriers in 16:32.

Kate Maltby was the first non-Welsh athlete, running for Midland Counties in 16:36.

Hosts Wales were the victors in the Inter-Area match for both men and women.

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The post Welsh titles for Ieuan Thomas and Clara Evans at Cardiff showpiece appeared first on Fast Running.

The Welsh 5km Championships will again take place within the Cardiff 5k – Race For Victory. The Sunday evening race takes runners on a flat and fast route around the Whitchurch and Llandaff North areas of the Welsh Capital.

The event is known for its festival atmosphere with live music, street food and a Supercar Parade.

The race will also feature an Inter-Area Match where hosts Wales will face the Midland Counties, North of England, Northern Ireland & Ulster and the UK Armed Forces.

Commonwealth Games rematch

The men’s Championship will see defending champion Jon Hopkins look to retain his title following a spell of altitude Training at the Welsh camp in Albuquerque recently.

Hopkins will be joined by Ieuan Thomas who was the runner-up 12 months ago. His pedigree includes a third place finish at the Armagh 5km International in 2014.

The pair know each other well and it was Hopkins who finished just one position ahead of Thomas in sixth place over the 3,000m S/C at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast last April.

Swansea Harrier Guy Smith will also race in the Welsh team along with Matthew Edwards of Cardiff AAC.

UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Champion, Adam Hickey is the top non- Welsh entry and the only athlete who has run sub 14 minutes for the distance on the road in the past.

Newport Harrier Abed Teweldebrhan was third last year and along with Peter Lewis of the UK Armed Forces and Chris Madden of Northern Ireland & Ulster, will be looking to get amongst the podium places.

Last year’s winner Charlotte Arter.

Top Welsh internationals facing off

The women’s race is likely to see Swansea Harriers Caryl Jones and Elinor Kirk contest the title along with in form Clara Evans.

Jones is the third fastest Welsh athlete over 10km of all time with Kirk sitting fourth on the same list. Both athletes have been amongst the top British endurance runners in recent years and are evenly matched over 5,000m with both having run 15:37 at best.

Evans’ greatest show of form was a 72:49 best for half marathon set earlier this year in Barcelona and the Cardiff based athlete is now looking for a gauge of fitness after returning from altitude in the USA.

Track star Jade Williams and Belgrave Harrier Sophie Harris will also race for Wales on Sunday.

Kate Maltby of Bristol & West AC will lead the Midland Counties team and is likely to feature near the front.

Tamara Beach of Les Croupiers RC and Sarah Mackness of the North of England are the next fastest on paper.

RELATED: Records set to tumble in Wales this weekend

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