By Owen Morgan

Wales’ dominance of women’s race walking within the UK looks set to continue for the foreseeable future in the shape of Pembrokeshire Harrier Gracie Griffiths.

The 17-year-old is quite literally following in the footsteps of her coach Heather Warner and Bethan Davies – Britain’s outstanding race walkers of recent years.

Griffiths’ latest achievement was shattering Warner’s Welsh under-20 5,000m record at the annual under-20 international match in Cardiff on Saturday.

Griffiths led from gun to tape as she left the rest of the field in her wake – clocking a winning time of 23:36.03 to break Warner’s 11-year-old record.

The win also brought full points to the Welsh team – appropriately being managed on the day by Davies, who was second to Warner at this year’s British Athletics Championships where Griffiths herself finished fifth.

Gracie Griffiths celebrates her win in the 5,000m race walk on Saturday. Pic: Owen Morgan

After crossing the line more than two minutes ahead of her nearest rival – England’s Abby Grace Hughes – a delighted Griffiths said: “That was amazing. I was expecting a fast time but to come off and see what I did on the clock was amazing.

“Even if I hadn’t got a PB I would have still been chuffed with what I’d done because I’ve had such a good season.

“But when it came to the last lap and I saw the clock, I could hear the timekeepers laughing at me because I was smiling as I went round.

“It’s a phenomenal feeling, I nearly cried once I crossed the line.

“I only had two red cards on the board as well. To escape with no penalty, I’m over the moon.”

The avoidance of further penalty under race-walking’s strict technique rules was particularly significant for Griffiths.

In July the youngster was on track to pick up a bronze medal behind Warner and Davies at the British Championships in Manchester. But an enforced stint in the sin bin to serve a time penalty meant she eventually finished fifth.

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The achievement of breaking the Welsh under-20 5,000m record starts to sink in for Gracie Griffiths. Pic: Owen Morgan

However, breaking the Welsh under-20 record in the international match against the other home nations was a welcome consolation said Griffiths.

“Even though I’m still quite pleased with how I did in Manchester. It would have been nice to have had a Welsh one-two-three.

“Especially with how well I was performing in the season,” said Griffiths, who had won bronze over 3,000m at the British Indoor Championships in February.

“But even though I was gutted, it was still a good time, so I couldn’t really be annoyed. But today, I’ve really ended the season on a high.”

Taking the Welsh under-20 record from her coach and fellow Pembrokeshire Harrier Warner made the achievement even more special for Griffiths.

“It’s quite funny because we’ve been joking about it all season and I thought it would be really fun if I got it on the last race of the season,” said Griffiths. “They’ve been saying all year: ‘it’s ok you’ve got years left to do it’.

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“But I wanted it today and I just stuck with the pace and it obviously worked quite well!”

Describing the record as a highlight of her season, she added: “To come across and see that time and the times that everyone else achieved, I really enjoyed it. It was a great atmosphere.”

With the 2023 track season drawing to a close, Griffiths is hoping to continue the kind of progression she’s shown over the past few years, which included breaking the national under-20 10,000m record at the Welsh Athletics Championships earlier this summer.

However, there may be a significant non athletics-related distraction on the horizon.

“I think we’re going play next season by ear a little bit because I’m doing my A levels as well,” said Griffiths. “I’ve got to tackle my exams first. As much as I don’t want to, I’ve got to!

“So I think we’re just going see what comes up. I’ve got some good competitions coming up and I’m hoping to go away to Poland again with the Welsh squad. So hopefully I can have the same experience but top it again next year.

“I’m looking forward to a rest now, but I can’t wait for next season.”

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