Simon Lawson 10K record

Friday 5 June 2009

Warm and windy conditions in Neath on Tuesday evening, 3rd June, were the setting as Simon Lawson, who recently set the new UK Half Marathon U20 record, completed a fantastic 10,000m race, smashed the standing Welsh Junior Record and beat the European Junior Championships Qualifying standard. Both Lawson and Dewi Griffiths went below the 30:40 time set as a benchmark for consideration for the GB team competing in the Euros this summer - an impressive achievement for the two youngsters. His time takes Simon to second place in the latest European rankings.

The race, specially staged to enable Lawson and Griffiths to achieve the standard, saw the two athletes being led to the 4k mark by pacesetter Nat Lane. Richie Gardner, still recovering from the London Marathon, also tried to pacemake, but the two boys were absolutely flying. Lawson and Griffiths worked together from 4k to 6k before Simon put his foot down and opened up a huge lead, going on to win with a 30:03.9 time to smash Andres Jones' previous Welsh Junior Record of 30:06 - an impressive performance, made even more spectacular by Lawson's attire of baggy t-shirt and knee length shorts (never forget your kit!). This time is a mere 2.3 seconds behind Belgian Dieter Vanstreels' European leading 30.01.64.

Simon was Cardiff's athlete of the month in March as a result of his record breaking run in the Bath Half Marathon and is already a contender for a repeat appearance in June. Well done Simon.