North Wales runners claim honours in Welsh Athletics 3-mile virtual championships

Two North Wales runners finished in the top-three finishing positions in last weekend’s Welsh Athletics (WA) 3-mile virtual championships, with just 16-seconds separating the podium places.

In the final 1 to 3 miles WA Winter series, some 244 quality runners completed their efforts in some very difficult weather conditions, often enduring blustery gale-force winds, on a course of their own choosing, and subject to strict Covid-19 restrictions.

James Smith from Colwyn Bay AC followed up with his success at the 2-mile championships last week, with a fine victory in the 3-mile race, claiming the 1st U17m age category win, in addition to the overall title.

James ran home in just 15 mins 49 secs, and he was just 6 seconds ahead of 2nd placed runner Richard Jones from Lliswerry Runners in 15.55, with NWRRC athlete Jonathan Kettle very close behind in 16.05.

Jonathan though, was pleased with his fine form, and was the 2nd M45 cat winner, and he led home a team of seven club runners, with four others also winning prestigious age category honours and podium placings.

Josh Keogh won the Senior Men age category with another fast finish in 16.34 in 7th place, and Kevin Slattery was another well-deserved age category victor, winning his Masters M65 group in 22.13 in 83rd place. Don Hale finished 99th overall and claimed 2nd M65 cat in 23.35, and Peter Armstrong enjoyed another excellent run in 101st place, to land 3rd place in his M70 age category.

Kay Hatton, despite another excellent run, faced some very tough opposition, finishing 98th overall, and she was 4th in her F55 cat in 23.22; with Helen Hannam coming home in 136th place, to complete a brave and painful run just days after her epic 20-mile Dawn till Dusk charity challenge, ending up 7th in her F45 age cat in 29.20.

And Mia Morris, representing Colwyn Bay, finished 5th U15G and 111th overall with a good run in 24.46, accompanied by her father Karl, who unofficially ran 22 mins.

• This weekend marks the start of the Spring virtual races, which begin on Friday 19th March with the Welsh Athletics Spring Virtual 5k and 10k races.
  The 5k is for U13 and U15 runners, with the 10k aimed at U17 athletes upwards.
  The minimum entry age for the latter race is 11 years. All events are free to enter and will take place over four days from Friday 19th March to Monday 22nd March.
  Further details are available on the Welsh Athletics website: http://www.welshathletics.org,