Innes Fitgerald returns to the Cardiff 5k Race For Victory with Aron Gebremariam headlining a competitive men’s field.
The Cardiff 5k Race For Victory returns to the Welsh Capital on Sunday and incorporates the Welsh 5km Championships. This year’s race will also feature teams from England, the Midlands, the North of England, North Wales and the UK Armed Forces. The race will start at 19:00 and feature live music and pyrotechnics.
Last year’s winner Innes FitzGerald returns. She has since become European U20 Cross Country Champion and improved the European U20 Record to 15:08 at the Bristol Track Club 5k. Back in early February the Exeter Harrier set the European U20 Indoor Record over 3,000m with a time of 8:40.05 in Ostrava.
Photo: Paul Stillman
Clara Evans-Graham (15:34) is a previous winner and was the runner-up last year, setting her PB in the process. Evans-Graham returns form a short injury spell but despite this will be the outstanding favourite for the Welsh title. She is Welsh Record holder for the half marathon (69:00) and marathon (2:25:01).
Atsede Gidey (16:15) is likely to make her presence known and has a 10km best of 32:34. Megan Marchant (16:14) and Chelsea Baker (16:16) come here with 10km bests of 33:54 and 33:45 respectively.
Other notable entries include Jenny Leggate (16:24) who was fifth U20 at the English National Cross Country Championships, Katie Hawkins (16:25) who won the Bolton 5k earlier this year and Hannah Clark who was second at the South of England Cross Country Championships in January.
Alaw Evans (16:07) was sixth here last time and was the winner of the Cardiff 10k in 2023. Evans will face local rival Lauren Cooper (16:39) and Sophie Pikett (16:19) in the Welsh Championships title race.
Men’s Field
Aron Gebremariam (13:33) is the fastest in the men’s field. The Birmingham based Eritrean Athlete won the U20 race at the UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in February and followed up with a third place finish at the prestigious Podium Festival in Leicester.
Blake Moore (13:52) is next fastest and starts with an impressive P.B. that was also set in Leicester. His last visit to Cardiff sealed a 14:03 clocking in 12th place at the Adidas Home Nations Podium 5k.
Seb Beedell (14:20) will lead a strong England U20 Team and was fourth at the English National Cross Country Championships in February.
The battle for Welsh honours here should take place between Pontypridd Roadents Mike Ward (13:54) and James Heneghan (14:13) who dipped under 14 minutes on the track at the Fast 5,000 in France last summer. Fellow Welshman Samuel Roberts (14:13) will also be chasing a sub 14 clocking.
Jon Butler (14:19), Rhodri Owen (14:26), Dylan Nazareth (14:31) and Alex Jackson (14:33) will also be contesting the Championships.
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Source: fastrunning.com