By Owen Morgan

James Hunt breezed to a hat-trick of Welsh Cross Country men’s titles at a windy Pembrey Country Park on Saturday, while Lauren Cooper claimed her first women’s gold at the championships.

The 117th running of the George Crump MBE memorial event attracted hundreds of entries of all ages from all over Wales.

Hunt’s win ahead of Cardiff Athletics clubmate Dan Nash was one of the closest finishes of the day.

Having overcome illness and injury, Hunt was delighted to add a third title to those he claimed in 2018 and 2020.

“I’m really happy with that,” said Hunt, who finished six seconds ahead of Nash in 33 minutes flat over the 10,350m course. Bridgend’s Adam Bowden was third.

“It was probably the toughest race I’ve had in years, so it just makes it a little bit more special and memorable,” added Hunt.

“The wind was tough. It was nice once you’d turned and it was behind you – that was the best part. But running into it, you just had to get your head down and plug away.”

The win was made all the sweeter as it signalled a return to form for the 25-year-old following illness and injury.

“Last year I picked up a little bit of a niggle in my shin. It was hit and miss whether it was a stress fracture, but bone bruising basically.

“There was that, then illness and everything around COVID, it’s just been tough. With restrictions and everything, it’s been up and down. It’s been mentally hard all round.

“So it was really good to be back racing and everything came together today, it’s like the stars aligned.

“That’s my third now, it’s just amazing. I know how much Dan wanted it as well. So to win three, it’s just amazing.”

Having returned to form and fitness, Hunt is now keen to look ahead, with one eye possibly on a Commonwealth Games spot in Birmingham this summer.

“I’m looking at it,” says Hunt of the Commonwealths. “I’ve potentially got a race out in California to try and get the standard. My fitness is back and I know I’m right there. Anything can happen in the next couple of months

“It would be amazing, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Fingers crossed!”

More immediately, Hunt says: “I’m going to do the Podium 5k In the next couple of weeks, and then maybe a track 5k in mid March and then off to America for a month training in Flagstaff in April.

“I’m really looking forward to that and then come back and try and run well in the Highgate 10K and the British champs on the track.”

Cooper is also taking confidence from her performance on Saturday over the sun-drenched but windswept dunes of Pembrey with a view to a place in Birmingham.

The Parc Bryn Bach steeplechaser said: “They even had a couple of little logs to jump over, I’m not sure if they did that ready for me . . . I tried to get my stride pattern in!

“I’ve got a bit more confidence after that. The training is paying off and I’ve got one more block now before I really need to knuckle down for the steeplechase.

“In mid-April I’m going to go out to go out to the States to get a couple of races in. But you know what, if I don’t get the qualifying time I’ve had a great time trying and it’s not my last season.

“I’ll be pleased to have a nice summer of track racing and getting my times down and then start building again ready for the next cycle if I don’t get there. So I’ve got options.”

For now, Cooper is just enjoying her running – across a variety of disciplines. “My poor body doesn’t know what I’m doing to it, I’m running indoors, cross country, 5k on the road, but it’s nice to see some of the training come together.

“I enjoyed this one. I felt like there was no pressure on me today. I knew there were some big names here but I also knew that one of these days my training was going to come out.

“I know I’m in good shape so I was enjoying it – the sun was out and I had a lot of support.”

Not only did Cooper overcome the opposition, which included Commonwealth Games marathoner Caryl Edwards, of Swansea Harriers, in second place and Chloe Dooley, of Pontypridd Roadents, who was third, but also the elements.

“It was super windy,” said Cooper, who clocked 27.37 for the 7,360m course. “I did try to stick behind Caryl for some of it, but as an experienced runner she was having none of it!

“So I thought ‘I’ll go when I can’. I train in Brynmawr where it’s always windy so I think I was used to it. I worked hard into the wind and then used it when it was behind me.”

There were a number of outstanding performances in the age group races on what was a hugely entertaining and well organised day of competition.

Ellen Mary Kearney produced a dominant display in the combined women’s Under-20 and Under-17 race.

The Wirral athlete claimed the Under-20 title covering the 5,150m course in 19.29, ahead of Molly Lyons, of Cardiff and Deeside’s Eden O’Dea. Ceri Griffiths, of Newport Harriers won the women’s Under-17 title.

The men’s Under-20 race was an evenly matched affair for most of the 7,360m course with Dafydd Jones and Cardiff pairing Ben Miles and Lloyd Sheppard Brown proving inseparable.

But Carmarthen Harrier Jones eventually broke away on the last lap to take the title in a time of 23.47.

The Men’s Under-17 race was a more straightforward affair with Westbury Harrier Artie Savage-Swaine leading for most of the way and triumphing ahead of Brecon’s Jack Organ, who was second ahead of Maldwyn’s Callum Morgan.

In the girls under-13 race, Swansea Harrier Libby Hale’s remarkable season continued as she claimed gold to add to the Welsh schools cross country championship and the Welsh under-15 indoor 800m and 1500m titles she has already won this year.

Full results, ranging from schools years 5 and 6 all the way up to men’s and women’s 75 categories are available on the Welsh Athletics website.