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The community event held in South Wales, which incorporates the 2024 Welsh 5km Championships saw victories from Innes FitzGerald and Dewi Griffiths
The Whitchurch based event – known for its live music, street food, pyrotechnics and carnival atmosphere – escaped earlier heavy rain and lived up to the pre-race hype yet again, writes Alex Donald.
Innes FitzGerald was an impressive winner on Sunday (May 6), falling just short of the course record with a time of 15:32.
The European U20 cross country champion had a parkrun mark of 16:02 to her name but overcame Clara Evans with victory on her road race debut.
This came five weeks after finishing 17th at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade for the talented young Exeter Harrier.
Welsh Marathon record-holder Evans was next home, retaining her Welsh 5km title in a new best time of 15:35 but unable to prevent FitzGerald from claiming the outright race crown.
Start of the Cardiff 5km (Paul Stillman)
Jenny Nesbitt finished third in 15:40 proving her return to fitness and outdoing her recent PB from the Podium 5km Festival in Leicester.
Emily Haggard-Kearney finished fourth in 15:56, a week on from a 15:44 performance at the Mid Chesire 5km and ahead of Sofia Latham in 16:08.
The Welsh Championship medals went to Evans, Nesbitt and Alaw Evans who claimed bronze in a new best of 16:14.
In the men’s race Dewi Griffiths and Jake Smith had led for most of the race with the pair passing the first kilometre in 2:44 and 3km in 8:16.
The last 1.5km of the course includes a small climb which may have quelled the opportunity for a sub-14 minute clocking.
With around 800m to go, Griffiths went clear but ultimately had to dig deep to hold off Richard Allen finishing fast for his North of England team.
Griffiths’ victory came in 14:03 with 2023 Trafford 10km champion Allen a close second, also finishing fast for his North of England team.
Dewi Griffiths (Paul Stillman)
Smith seemed happy with third place in 14:09 which was a steady improvement as the Pontypridd Roadent returned to fitness.
Griffiths, delighted with his win, said: “I was really pleased with that and it showed that I am recovering well from the Seville Marathon.
“I will continue to build and race back to fitness. I think an autumn marathon could definitely be an option.”
Ben Reynolds had won the Nos Galan Road Races on New Years Eve and was fourth in Cardiff in 14:20, claiming the silver medal in the Welsh 5km Championships.
BUCS Indoor 3000m champion in 2023 James Heneghan closed out the top five in 14:26 and claimed Welsh bronze.
The North of England won both the men and women’s team competitions.
Overall: 1 D Griffiths (Swan) 14:03; 2 R Allen (Leeds) 14:03; 3 J Smith (P’pool) 14:09; 4 B Reynolds (Card) 14:20; 5 J Heneghan (P’pridd) 14:26; 6 S Roberts (Retford) 14:36; 7 J Butler (Swan) 14:38; 8 M Bostock (Leeds) 14:38; 9 L Vine (Tip) 14:43; 10 R Warner-Judd (B’burn) 14:45
M45: 1 J Edwards (W’ton) 16:02
M50: 1 S Davies (P Bryn) 16:47
M55: 1 J Wherlock (Llis) 16:35
M60: 1 P Reddaway (Ware) 17:47
M65: 1 D James (les C) 18:46
M70: 1 A Davies (Swan) 18:08
Women: 1 I FitzGerald (Exe, U20) 15:32; 2 C Evans (P’pridd) 15:35; 3 J Nesbitt (Worc) 15:40; 4 E Haggard-Kearney (Warriors) 15:58; 5 S Latham (U20) 16:08; 6 A Evans (les C) 16:14; 7 L Robinson (Wake) 16:25; 8 I Morri (P’pridd) 16:47; 9 C McKnespiey (Leeds) 16:50; 10 S Wilson (T Bath) 17:03
W40: 1 L Flynn (Les C) 17:38
W45: 1 C Martin (Telf) 19:20
W50: 1 N Jukes (P Bryn) 19:54
W55: 1 T Jenkins (P’cawl) 19:33
W60: 1 K Wehden (Islwyn) 21:16
W70: 1 J Miles 25:54
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