It's been a busy few weeks of competition for junior and senior athletes in the first three weeks of February... from club representation in West Wales to national Welsh Athletics and England Athletics competitions.
The events in Wales and further afield across the UK this month have included the John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League, Celtic Home Nations Cross Country, England Athletics Age Group Indoor Championships, West Wales Indoor Athletics Championships and Tata Steel Llanelli 10K, along with a British Universities & Colleges double-header.
Below are the Carmarthen Harriers club results from events held between February 1st and February 16th at Cardiff, Loughborough, Margam, Leeds, Sheffield, Swansea and Llanelli.
Da iawn pawb wnaeth cystadlu / Well done to everyone that competed.
British Universities and Colleges Cross Country Championships - Blackweir Fields, Cardiff (Saturday 1st February)
For the second time in three years, the British Universities & Colleges Cross Country Championships took place in Wales.
While junior athletes were competing at the Welsh Athletics junior indoor championships at Cyncoed, on the other side of Cardiff and two years on from Pembrey Country Park hosting the event, the 2025 races were held at Blackweir Fields. Representing Cardiff University, Steffan Davies clocked 27:28 in the men's short course.
Loughborough Indoor Open 2 (Sunday 2nd February)
Loughborough University hosted its second indoor open. Jessica Lee competed in pool B of the long jump with a best of 5.71m, and followed shortly afterwards with a leap of 1.63m in the high jump.
John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League - Fixture 4 - Margam Park, Port Talbot (Saturday 8th February)
Club cross country racing returned for Carmarthenshire athletes at the John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League on Saturday 8th February.
After a local fixture locally in Pembrey followed by trips to Cardiff and Bristol so far this campaign, the penultimate event took place back in West Wales at a muddy Margam Park in Port Talbot.
The club results on the day were as follows / Canlyniadau y clwb ar dydd oedd:
Novice Girls / Merched o dan 11: Emily Baker (7:21); Haf Thomas (7:26); Mared Rees (8:10); Alys Tremlett (8:27); Gwen Lewis (8:28); Tayla Williams (9:15)
Novice Boys / Bechgyn o dan 11: Alfie Stopher (6:44); Macsen Davies (7:40); Aron Lewis (7:17); Harri Williams (7:20); Harri Davies (7:24); Isaac Longar (7:49); Mason Wrona (8:10); Oliver Wise (10:10)
Under 13 Girls / Merched o dan 13: Manon Phillips (7:59); Paige-lily Williams (8:41); Aeronwy Morgan-Fisher (9:37); Cerys Fitzpatrick (10:10)
Under 13 Boys / Bechgyn o dan 13: Alex Ladd (6:56); Oliver Horn (7:45); Dylan Williams (8:10); Jasper Davis (8:29); Iwan Morris (8:46)
Under 15 Girls / Merched o dan 15: Sali Owen (13:30); Nansi Griffiths (14:17); Lily Morgan (14:51); Anna Jones (15:40); Lowri Morgan (15:57); Miriam Williams (16:55); Esme Lynock (17:30)
Under 17 Women / Merched o dan 17: Anastasia Eggleston-Stoker (18:02)
Under 17 Men / Bechgyn o dan 17: Joshua Barnett (16:33); William Harries (17:21); Jimmy Davis (18:50); Yori Sheldon (20:17)
Under 20 Men / Bechgyn o dan 20: Ifan Bowen (16:14)
Senior Women / Menywod: Nia Davies (32:28); Amy Tucker (34:43)
Senior Men / Dynion: Huw Davies (41:34); Glyn Davies (45:22)
Sunday 2nd March will see the finale to the 2024/25 season as Penlan in Brecon stages round 5.
Celtic Home Nations Cross Country - Roundhay Park, Leeds (Saturday 8th February)
Amelia Williams and Finley Bruce represented Wales at the Celtic Home Nations Cross Country, incorporated into the British Athletics Cross Challenge Series at Roundhay Park, Leeds on Saturday.
Teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Midland Counties, Northern Athletics and South of England were involved.
In their respective under 17 and under 20 distances they clocked 14:16 and 18:05.
England Athletics Under 20, Under 17 & U15 Indoor Championships 2024 - English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (Saturday 8th February - Sunday 9th February)
Carmarthen Harriers' Jessica Lee travelled to South Yorkshire to compete at the England Athletics under 15, 17 and 20 indoor championships.
In the final field event of the opening day at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, Jessica Lee recorded a season’s best jump of 5.93m in the opening round to place fifth overall. This was followed less than 24 hours later by a leap of 1.60m in the high jump.
West Wales Indoor Regional Athletics Championships 2025 - Swansea University Indoor Athletics Track (Saturday 15th February)
The 2025 West Wales Indoor Athletics Championships at Swansea University Indoor Athletics Track was completed on Saturday 15th February.
After the 200m to 1500m distances contested in Cardiff followed by the jumps weekend five weeks ago, the three remaining events this year were included over the weekend - 60m, 60m Hurdles and Shot Put for all age groups from U11 to Seniors.
There were 200 athletes who competed in Swansea and among them were 21 Carmarthen Harriers athletes.
11 regional medals were won and plenty of personal bests and season bests were also achieved.
The club results on the day were as follows / Canlyniadau y clwb ar dydd oedd:
Ben Bowen - Shot (9.77m)
Gwyn James - Shot (8.99m)
Gethin Mason - 60m Hurdles (11.18)
Dafydd Williams - 60m (8.95); Shot (6.16m)
Llew Gruffydd - 60m (9.51); Shot (5.03m)
Elliot Young - 60m (8.92)
Efan Morgan - 60m (9.51)
Dewi Ifan - Shot (7.35m)
Max Edwards - 60m (9.27); Shot (4.86m)
Tygan Davies - 60m (7.33)
Cole Brydson - 60m (7.41)
Kaylan Brydson - 60m (7.66)
Seren Bowen - 60m Hurdles (12.43); Shot (8.18m)
Ffion Mabey - Shot (9.11m)
Anya Walters - 60m (8.91)
Lois Murray - 60m (9.36)
Erica Broome - 60m (9.75)
Gwen Fitzpatrick - 60m (10.24); Shot (3.68m)
Anest Jones - 60m (8.58)
Tayla Williams - 60m (4.70m)
Paige-lily Williams - 60m (6.41m)
British Universities (BUCS) Indoor Athletics Championships 2025 - English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (Friday 14th February - Sunday 16th February)
A fortnight after the cross country championships were held in Cardiff, attention for university students moved to Sheffield and the British Universities Indoor Athletics Championships over an action-packed three-days of competition.
Sophia Reid-Thomas (Bath Spa) was the first in action in the 60m sprint heats on Friday afternoon, stopping the clock in heat 8 in 8.58.
Jessica Hyland, representing Swansea University went in heat 1 of the 3000m, the first event of the second day. She clocked 10:29.75 after completing 15-laps of the track.
Meanwhile out on the field on Day 2, Lili Church (Cardiff Metropolitan University) and Jessica Lee (Loughborough University) both qualified for the women's high jump final with 1.60m. On Sunday afternoon, they cleared a best of 1.66m and 1.63m respectively.
Tata Steel Llanelli Half Marathon & 10K 2025 - Festival Fields, Llanelli (Sunday 16th February)
Front Runner Events staged its annual road running event in West Wales as the Tata Steel Llanelli Half Marathon & 10K event returned to Carmarthenshire's coastline.
Starting and finishing at Festival Fields in Pwll, Sion Rowlands (38:34), Tracy Ladd (51:06) and Lee Ladd (51:08) all completed the 10K distance on a windy but scenic route along the Millenium Coastal Path.
