Cardiff AAC’s British League adventure moves on to Leeds tomorrow, 1st August, with the Cardiff team still sitting on top of its division.
After the first two matches of the four round series, Cardiff narrowly leads the division from Blackheath, Herne Hill and TVH. A good result at Leeds is essential to Cardiff's promotion ambitions but team manager James Williams has assembled a strong team for the encounter.
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Cardiff's Welsh Under 15 League team rounded off this year's series to come top of the league. Newport were second with Hereford third and these clubs accompany Cardiff to the Cup Final at Brecon on 23 August.
Cardiff's Mike Johnson won the SSAFA 5k road race held in Cardiff last Wednesday, 22 July, from team mate Chris Moss. Mike was very pleased with his winning time of 14m.45 which equalled his best time on the course and gave him an 11sec advantage over second placed Chris.
Mike and Chris took an early lead in the race and ran away from the rest of the field but, as the race went on, Bristol based Mike proved the stronger on the day and thwarted Chris in his ambition to win all three races.
Chris Moss had won the first two of the three race series and thus took the series title.
Cardiff's 400m hurdler Rhys Williams has been included in the Great Britain team for the IAAF World Championships taking place in Berlin from 15th to 23 August, UK Athletics has announced today. Rhys joins Swansea's David Greene in the 400m hurdles.
This selection is a just reward for Rhys's determination to come back after missing two seasons through injury. He was the bronze medallist in the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2006.
On another typical athletics day in Cardiff (continual rain), Cardiff's National Junior League team, already weakened by illnesses, managed only 7th place in the fourth and final match of the year yesterday, Sunday 26 July. A number of good performances could not overcome gaps in the team; which will be competing next year in a regional division of this league.
Cardiff's Simon Lawson crowned a fabulous season by taking the silver medal in the European Junior Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia earlier today. His time of 30.35.62 was outside his best but this is not significant in such an important race.
The winner was Hayle Ibrahimov (Azerbaijan) and fellow Welshman Dewi Griffiths was fourth.
Simon's was the first British medal in these Championships. He is also entered in the 5000m on Sunday provided he has recovered sufficiently from the 10,000m
Cardiff’s Senior Men and Women were out on Saturday last, 18th July, competing in the BAL Golden Jubilee Cup at Yate. Supported by mums, dads, officials and club members the men finished first, ahead of Exeter Harriers with Team Southampton third. The women’s team produced a solid performance to finish fourth.
James Williams, the men’s team manager said “the athletes have done really well to finish with a 12 point lead over Exeter. In this competition, where only ten events are contested, every point counts.”
Former World 400m finalist Tim Benjamin has announced his retirement with immediate effect. The 27 year old Cardiff athlete who also won World youth gold and European junior gold has called time on his career due to a succession of injuries.
He said: “The injuries and illnesses I have endured over the last four years have been well documented, with my absence from last summer's Olympic Games representing the pinnacle of disappointment and frustration.
“Although this decision may seem sudden, it is the culmination of incessant setbacks. I have already talked about how my 2008 disappointment almost caused me to leave the sport, but I was determined to end my career on my own terms when the time arrived.
In a triumphant end to its season the Young Athletes' League team easily won the fifth and final round of the series at Swindon yesterday, Sunday 19th July. Cardiff won with 460 points with Newport second, Swindon third and Hereford & County fourth. With a maximum 20 league points, Cardiff gain automatic promotion to the Midland Premier Division along with rivals Halesowen.
Over the next weekend, three of the club teams will be competing in key competitions. The Young Athletes' League team will travel to Swindon on Sunday for the fifth and final round of the season; which will be the promotion decider. The senior men's and women's teams travel to London, bidding for a place in the BAL Golden Jubilee Cup for the first time. Success is on the horizon.