Regional Championships
Sunday 10 May 2009
Cardiff's athletes were prominent at the combined South and East Wales Regional Championships, held at Cardiff International Sports Stadium yesterday, Saturday 9 May 2009. For a change, the weather was reasonably kind to the athletes, with sunshine all day but a cold wind that was strong at times.
Joe Thomas produced a good early season 48.86s to win the senior men's 400m and Rhys Williams made a welcome return to competition, winning the 400m Hurdles in a quick 51.02s. Perhaps the best race of the day was the senior men's 200m which saw Matt Elias (thankfully fit and free of injury again) hold off rival Rhys Williams in a time of 22.05s. Cardiff athletes took a total of 66 titles.
Joe Thomas is one of Wales’ most promising young athletes but has to juggle training and competition with important exams. Rhys Williams has not completed a 400m Hurdles race for almost two years and was understandably nervous before the race. His winning time of 51.02 in windy conditions was his best ever start to a season. We should see Rhys back in a British vest before long and he has his eyes on the World Championships in Berlin in August. It is also good to see Matt Elias back after injury and the rivalry between him and Rhys over 400m Hurdles will surely be good for both of them and fascinating to watch. Which other club can claim such quality in one event?
But, if Joe, Rhys and Matt were our senior stars of the day, there were many more Cardiff athletes setting personal bests and winning titles. A full list is given below but a special mention needs to be made of evergreen Alyson Hourihan who took the Masters (women) titles in the Shot Put, Discus, Hammer and Javelin.
Well done to everyone.
Cardiff winners (South Wales champions except where stated):
Senior Men: Rhys Williams (400m H); Liam Duff (100m); Ian Dwight (Long Jump); Ed Takata (1500m); Matt Elias (200m); Jonathan Murray (Pole Vault); Joe Thomas (400m); Jamie Gutteridge (400m H - East Wales).
Junior Men: Luke Morgan (400mH); Chris Howe (100m); Tom Knight (100m, 200m – East Wales); Rhys Hodnett (Hammer); Joshua Williams (Javelin); Daniel Sharrem (110mH – East Wales); Declan Evans (400m); Tom Whitmarsh-Knight (1500m sc); Jacob Matthews (Discus - East Wales); Thomas Kivell (Long Jump, Triple Jump - East Wales); Nathan Felvus (400m - East Wales).
Under 17 Men: Samuel Morgan (400mH); Stefano Falsini (1500m); Ryan Leonard (Discus, Javelin); Jamal Whyte (200m); Lewis Newton (Pole Vault); James Wiltshire (400m); Jacob Brennan (Triple Jump); Darren Jones (1500 sc).
Under 15 Boys: Steve Lewis (100m); Dean Garrison (Javelin); Jonathan Bailey (80mH, Long Jump); Felix Ianoco (High Jump).
Senior Women: Emma Peters (400mH, 200m); Sarah Barry (Triple Jump); Lucy Lougher (100m H).
Junior Women: Amber Vincent (100m); Ayla Phillips (Shot Put, Hammer); Hannah Lewis (200m); Lauren Regan (400m); Hannah Clarke (400m - East Wales).
Under 17 Women: Mica Moore (100m, 200m); Lauren McCarthy (300m); Majidah Harb (1500m); Shaleena Graham (100m, 200m - East Wales); Lorraine Graham-Mulvaney (100m - East Wales).
Under 15 Girls: Francesca Morris (1500m - East Wales); Cyndi Kitenge (100m, 200m); Ffion Bodilly (High Jump); Lucy Daly (Pole Vault); Rebecca Foley (75mH); Leonora Foley (300m).
Under 13 Girls: Kate Seary (High Jump).
Masters (Men): Steve Lewis (200m).
Masters (Women): Alyson Hourihan ( Shot Put, Hammer, Discus, Javelin); Lolita Byfield-Moore (200m).
If any errors have inadvertently crept in, please advise and they will be corrected.