By Owen Morgan

Dewi Griffiths’ place at September’s World Athletics Championships in Doha has been confirmed by British Athletics.

The Swansea Harrier is amongst the first six members of the GB team to be officially named for the championships.

Griffiths earned his selection by gaining the World Championships qualifying time at Sunday’s London Marathon where he clocked 2:11.46.
Sunday’s run was only Griffiths’ second outing over the distance having run 2:09.49 on his debut in Frankfurt back in 2017.

The seven-time Welsh Cross Country Champion’s progress over the distance was then stalled by a long term hip injury which resulted in him missing last year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

However, the Carmarthenshire farmer has been fighting his way back to form and fitness since returning to competition last summer.

Now all that hard work has been rewarded with selection for the World Championship marathon team alongside Scotland’s Callum Hawkins in the men’s race and English pair Tish Jones and Charlotte Purdue in the women’s event.

Sir Mo Farah and Steph Twell were also both available for selection for the marathon, but have chosen to decline their places.

Also named in this initial selection announcement for the World Championships are Cameron Corbishley and Dominic King in the 50KM race walk.

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: “I am pleased to announce the first athletes selected for the British team for the IAAF World Championships in Doha later this year following what has been a high-quality qualifying period.

“Each of the six athletes selected have performed extremely well to confirm their places in Doha, many setting personal bests and establishing themselves among the UK’s best all-time in their events.

“The IAAF World Championships in Doha are a very important marker ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and we look forward to being as competitive as possible in both events.”