By Owen Morgan

Commonwealth Games-bound Dewi Griffiths was forced to abort his attempt to win a magnificent seventh consecutive Welsh Cross Country title in Swansea on Saturday.

The Swansea Harrier pulled up as a precaution halfway around the picturesque Singleton Park course after suffering from “stiffness”, said his coach Kevin Evans afterwards.

“It’s just a bit of stiffness he’s got, that’s all,” explained Evans. “I’m sure he’ll be sorted out in a couple of days.”

Evans confirmed Griffiths’ withdrawal – on what was a beautifully sunny but chilly afternoon – was not connected to the hamstring injury which he had suffered during the European Cross Country Championship in Slovakia last December.

“It’s nothing to do with the hamstring, thank goodness. That’s been sorted out weeks ago. No problems there.

“It’s just precautionary. Obviously, we have far more important things to think about in seven or eight weeks time,” said Evans, referring to the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast where Griffiths is aiming to double up in the 5,000m and 10,000m.

Griffiths had left the decision on whether to run in Swansea until the 11th hour after complaining he was left “aching” following an encouraging return to competitive action in the Armagh 5k road race the previous weekend.

The Llanfynydd athlete’s untimely exit from the race left the door open for a new winner of the men’s senior title for the first time since his dominance of the event began in St Fagans way back in 2012.

The man to take over the champion’s mantle was James Hunt, who motored to a hugely impressive victory in the late winter Swansea sunshine.

Here's your 2018 Welsh Cross Country Champion James Hunt of Cardiff AAC! #WelshChamps18 pic.twitter.com/pzUYuYOYul

— Welsh Athletics (@WelshAthletics) February 24, 2018

The Cardiff AAC athlete showed his superior strength during the second half of the race. A kick on the downhill section took him away from the field to secure victory in a time of 30.45.

Hunt said he was “over the moon” to have added his name to the likes of Griffiths as Welsh Cross Country Champion.

He said: “It’s like a dream to be honest, that’s the only way I can describe it. I’ve watched him in the older age groups as l’ve come through the rankings.  It’s just awesome to be a Welsh champion like he is.”

“I’ve put a lot of training in and it seems to have paid off, so I’m really happy.”

Second home in 31.04 was Swansea Harrier Phil Matthews, who was the M35 title winner, while Cardiff’s Dan Nash was third to complete the 10,100m course in 31.43.

Despite Cardiff having two athletes on the winner’s podium, the Senior Men’s Team title went to Swansea Harriers.

The Women’s Senior title was won by Scarborough AC’s Bronwen Owen, who completed the 6,420m course in a time of 21.31.

Owen, who said she had not expected to win but had hoped for a medal, took the lead with around 800ms from the line and never looked back.

The talented triathlete finished ahead of last year’s champion Beth Kidger, of Brighton Phoenix, who clocked a time of 21.42. Third was Melanie Wilkins, of Winchester and District AC, who clocked 22.29.

The Senior Women’s team title was also claimed by Swansea Harriers, whose top finisher was Sian Edwards in fourth place.

Dominic Smith took the top Welsh honours in the junior men’s race, just behind race winner and Swansea Harrier team mate Connor Smith.

Cardiff AAC’s Abigail Fisher won the under-17/under-20 women’s race, with the under-17 men’s victory going to club-mate Larry Ryan.

Mike Spill and Samia Jones, of Menai Track & Field, took under-15 titles, with Frank Morgan, of Carmarthen Harriers, and Neisha Roberts, of Deeside AAC, claiming under-13 titles.

There was a double for Carmarthen Harriers in the Primary Boys and Girls races where Iwan Thomas and Erin Morgan were victorious.

Welsh Cross Country Championships

Senior Men
1, James Hunt (Cardiff AAC) 30:45; 2, Phil Matthews (Swansea Harriers) 31:04; 3, Dan Nash (Cardiff AAC) 31:43

Senior Women
1, Bronwen Owen (Scarborough AC) 21:31; 2, Beth Kidger (Brighton Phoenix) 21:42l 3, Melanie Wilkins (Winchester & District AC) 22:19

Under 20 Men
1, Conor Smith (Swansea Harriers) 22:13; 2, Dominic Smith (Swansea Harriers) 22:23; 3, Oliver Dickinson (Wells City Harriers) 22:30

Under 17 / 20 Women
1, Abi Fisher (Cardiff AAC) 18:21; 2, Gracie Wheeler (Cardiff AAC) 18:26; 3, Mia Roberts (Deeside AAC) 18:55

Under 17 Men
1, Larry Ryan (Cardiff AAC) 16:04; 2, Morgan James (Cardiff AAC) 16:06; 3, James Penrose (Cardiff Archers) 16:23

Full results from the 114th Welsh Cross Country Championships can be found on the Welsh Athletics Website.