The Adidas Home Nations Podium 5k takes place in Cardiff on Saturday evening over a fast multi-lap circuit of Coopers Field in Bute Park.

The third edition of the event will feature athletes competing for national, composite and club teams. Last year’s races were won in course records of 13:39 and 15:29 by Tom Mortimer and Calli Thackery respectively. Mortimer’s mark was also a Welsh all-comers record. The 2024 races boast real strength in depth for what is considered the most competitive road race held on Welsh soil annually.

International Competition

Iceland International Baldvin Magnussen (13:42) will be in action for the Adidas team alongside Richard Allen (13:51) who is a previous course record holder at the Barrowford Podium 5k and twice a runner-up at the Cardiff 5k – Race For Victory. Magnussen is a multiple Icelandic Record Holder and was an impressive fifth at the ground breaking Podium 5k Festival in Leicester this March.

The England team is headed by Alex Lepretre (13:55) where he is joined by Jack Goodwin (13:59) who set his road P.B here 12 months ago and has gone far faster on the track with a best of 13:35.

Yorkshire Cross Country Champion Angus McMillan (13:57) heads the Scottish line-up with track specialist James Heneghan (14:13) the top entrant for the Welsh Team.

The Oxford University line-up features American athlete Jared Ward who has run 13:34 over 5,000m and was notably sixth at the Rio Olympic Marathon competing for the USA.

Jack Gray (13:47) competes for the BLT team and has sub 14 minute form this year. Kadar Omar (14:02) is a 28:27 10km man and never far from the front when in action on British roads

Irish International Fearghal Curtin will be in action for local club Pontypridd Roadents and has a 13:34 best over 5,000m and a 7:50 best for 3,000m.

Photo: Paul Stillman

Strong Women’s Field

Adidas appear to be the strongest team on the women’s side by some way. The headline sponsors will be led by Armagh 3km winner Megan Davies (15:34) but with fellow favourite Georgie Grgec (15:45), 2022 English National Cross Country Champion Jess Gibbon (16:02) and Yvie Lock (16:03) also in the team.

New Zealander Grgec was the runner-up at the Dulwich Podium event in April and more recently set a 5,000m best of 15:20 at the Wimbledon 5,000m Festival in early August, proving great current form.

Holly Dixon (15:58) is perhaps the standout entry on the England Team here.

Wales’ Jenny Nesbitt (15:40) was the runner-up at the inaugural edition of this event in 2022 and the 2019 UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Champion is very familiar with the course, training here regularly. The Pontypridd Roadent will be joined by Beth Kidger (15:57) who is the Sussex Cross Country Champion.

Scotland’s Jenny Selman (16:18) is their standout name but known mainly as an 800m specialist.

Holly Archer (15:50) competes for the Podium Team, and was the 2019 Silver medalist over 1500m at the European Indoor Championships, more recently winning the Ipswich Twilight 5k in May.

Poppy Tank (16:00) has dipped under the 16 minute mark several times on the track, most recently this May in California. She therefore so could also be in the mix for glory in Cardiff.

Races start at 17:30 and will be livestreamed with details on the Sportshoes and Podium media channels.