The final week of February and the first few days of March saw club athletes of all ages represent the athletics club, West Wales and Dyfed Schools Athletic Association at cross country, road and indoor athletics.
The events in Wales and further afield across the UK have included the Welsh Schools National Cross Country Championships, John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League, Podium 5K, UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships and Welsh Schools Sportshall Athletics Finals.
Below are the Carmarthen Harriers club results from events held between February 19th and March 9th at Brecon, London, Nottingham and Llantrisant.
Da iawn pawb wnaeth cystadlu / Well done to everyone that competed.
Welsh Schools & Colleges National Cross Country Championships 2025 - Penlan Arena, Brecon (Wednesday 19th February)
A total of 28 Carmarthen Harriers endurance members represented the Dyfed Schools Athletic Association at Brecon.
The midweek Welsh Schools & Colleges National Cross Country Championships was staged for the 62nd time in Powys.
It was one of Welsh Schools Athletic Associations’ major competitions of the winter season at Penlan Arena.
They were joined by another forty young runners from secondary schools and colleges across the Brianne, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Llanelli areas.
Competing at National school level for the first time in the year 7 races were Elsie Davies (Dyffryn Aman), Bethan Hampshire (Bro Myrddin), Teaghan Williams (QE High), Dylan Williams (Maes Y Gwendraeth) and Jasper Davis (Llandovery College).
Manon Phillips (Bro Myrddin), Lily Morgan (Greenhill), Lowri Morgan (Bro Dinefwr), Paige-lily Williams (Dyffryn Aman), Beca Elfyn (Bro Myrddin), Alex Ladd (Aberteifi), Gethin Thomas (QE High) and Tomos Cai Davies (Bro Myrddin) were in action over the year 8 and 9 distances.
10 athletes lined up in the year 10 and 11 categories, which featured Amelia Williams (Bro Teifi), Sali Owen (Penweddig), Nansi Griffiths (Greenhill), Macy Blue (Bro Myrddin), Anna Jones (Bro Myrddin), Anastasia Eggleston-Stoker (Llandovery College), Esme Lynock (Bro Dinefwr), Sam Griffiths (Bro Myrddin), Jimmy Davis (Bro Myrddin) and Sion Rowlands (Bro Myrddin).
Representing the district in the Senior boys’ event were Ifan Bowen (Bro Myrddin), Finley Bruce (Bro Preseli), Joshua Barnett (Dyffryn Taf), William Harries (Haverfordwest High) and Yori Sheldon (Pembrokeshire College).
The junior girls were victorious in the team competition with the middle girls and senior boys placing second.
The Year 7 girls and middle boys age groups were fourth.
Welsh Schools will be represented at the SIAB Schools Cross Country International, which is being hosted by Scottish Schools on March 22.
PUL5K Under Lights Podium 5K - Battersea Park, London (Thursday 27th February)
Iwan Thomas travelled to London on Thursday evening 27th February for the PUL5K Under Lights Podium 5K race. Consisting of 2 laps around Battersea Park, he clocked a new 5K personal best of 15:11
John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League - Fixture 5 - Penlan Arena, Brecon (Sunday 2nd March)
The day after St David's Day, the John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League season ended in Powys at the beginning of the month.
Beginning with a local fixture at Pembrey Country Park back in October, the fifth and final round took place at Penlan Arena fields in Brecon.
Over 30 runners from the under 11’s to seniors represented Carmarthen Harriers in the ten-race programme.
Mared Rees, Haf Thomas, Lydia Ladd, Emily Baker, Alys Tremlett, Alfie Stopher, Macsen Davies, Oliver Wise, Mason Wrona, Aron Lewis and Harri Davies competed in the novice girls’ and boys’ races.
In the under 13 age group, Paige-lily Williams, Elsie Davies, Manon Phillips, Aeronwy Morgan-Fisher, Alex Ladd, Tomos Cai Davies and Iwan Morris ran a distance of 2,500m.
The quartet of Miriam Williams, Lowri Morgan, Nansi Griffiths and Sali Owen helped the under 15 girls win silver in the team awards.
There were further success in the under 17 men and under 20 men categories, who picked up gold and bronze respectively.
Joshua Barnett, William Harries, Jimmy Davis and Ifan Bowen made the journey to mid-Wales.
They were joined by Amelia Williams in the under 17 women’s race.
Attracting the largest turnout of competitors, Amy Tucker, Jessica Hyland, Tracy Ladd, Glyn Davies, Lee Ladd and Huw Davies participated in the senior and master event.
In addition, 6 medals were won by athletes who finished in the top five individual placings.
British Athletics Cross Challenge Series, incorporating UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships - Wollaton Park, Nottingham (Saturday 8th March)
The final leg of the 2024/2025 British Athletics Cross Challenge took place at Wollaton Park in Nottingham on Saturday 8th March, which also incorporated the UK Inter Countries Cross Country Championships.
This year's Cross Challenge Series had already visited Cardiff, Liverpool, Glasogw and Leeds since October.
Twelve Carmarthen Harriers athletes in the under 13, under 15, under 17 and under 20 age groups made the long journey up to the East Midlands to represent the West Wales Region:
Under 13 Girls / Merched o dan 13: Manon Phillips (12:59); Paige-lily Williams (13:55)
Under 13 Boys / Bechgyn o dan 13: Alex Ladd (12:06); Tomos Cai Davies(13:15); Dylan Williams (13:46)
Under 15 Girls / Merched o dan 15: Sali Owen (16:21); Nansi Griffiths (17:08); Anna Jones (18:36)
Under 17 Women / Merched o dan 17: Macy Blue (21:46)
Under 17 Men / Bechgyn o dan 17: Joshua Barnett (21:30); William Harries (22:23)
Under 20 Men / Bechgyn o dan 20: Iwan Thomas (26:37)
Welsh Schools U13 & U15 Sportshall Athletics Final 2025 - Llantrisant Leisure Centre (Sunday 9th March)
The Welsh Schools Sportshall Athletics Final, one of the annual grassroots school fixtures in Wales, was staged at Llantrisant Leisure Centre on Sunday, March 9.
Pupils in the under 13 (year 7 and 8) and under 15 (year 9 and 10) age groups competed, as it moved to a new venue in Rhondda Cynon Taf from Cwmbran.
Dyfed Schools were one of five Welsh districts represented over thirty-six indoor sportshall events altogether.
Carmarthen Harriers members Beca Elfyn (Bro Myrddin), Paige-lily Williams (Dyffryn Aman) and Oliver Horn (Bro Myrddin) represented the Dyfed Schools’ Under 13 and 15 district teams in Rhondda Cynon Taf, competing in several individual track and final events along with the 4 x 1 lap and 4 x 2 lap relays during the day.
