From New York To Newcastle, Welsh Stars Shine On The Road

Oliver Hoare of Australia, Jake Wightman and third-placed Jake Heyward of Great Britain after the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile on Sunday. Pic: Da Ping Luo/New York Road Runners via Getty Images

From New York To Newcastle, Welsh Stars Shine On The Road

By Owen Morgan

A number of Wales’ endurance athletes produced eye-catching performances on the road over the weekend.

Olympic 1500 finalist Jake Heyward finished third at the prestigious New York Fifth Avenue mile, while a group of athletes enjoyed top 10 finishes at the 40th edition of the Great North Run.

Charlotte Arter followed up her Welsh record-breaking performance at the Cardiff 5K last month with another great run on the streets of Newcastle.

The Cardiff athlete finished sixth in 1:11.11 behind Kenya’s world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri, who crossed the line in 1:07.42 and fellow Brit Eilish McCoglan, who finished just six seconds behind Obiri on her half marathon debut.

Charlotte Arter was a fine sixth in high-quality Great North Run Pic: Owen Morgan.

Swansea Harrier Verity Ockenden was eighth in 1:12.56, while Welsh marathon record holder Natasha Cockram, of the Micky Morris Racing Team, was just behind in 1:12.59.

Arter’s Cardiff club mate and training partner Clara Evans was 10th in an impressive 1:13.22, considering she has been recently nursing a calf injury.

The men’s race saw Cardiff-based Jake Smith finish in a highly creditable fourth place in 1:01.54 behind winner Marc Scott, who crossed the line in 1:01.22.

Across the Atlantic, tennis sensation Emma Raducanu wasn’t the only British sports star hitting the headlines in New York.

Cardiff’s US-based middle distance star Heyward was part of a strong British contingent running at the Fifth Avenue Mile.

The Welsh mile record holder finished a close third, sharing the same time as second placed American athlete Oliver Hoare, who crossed the line a fraction ahead of Heyward in 3:50.4.

Sunday’s race was won by Heyward’s fellow Olympic 1500m finalist Jake Wightman, who broke the tape in 3:49.6.

The women’s race was won by Wightman’s fellow Scot Jemma Reekie, whose perfectly timed kick brought her home in 4:21.6.

 

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