Newport 10 000m sees stars on show

Dewi Griffiths, Emile Cairess, Charlotte Arter and Lily Partridge head the Elite 10,000m race at Newport Stadium today. The Elite Winter 10k will feature 10,000m races for top endurance runners looking to test themselves ahead of the British Olympic Marathon Trials in Kew Gardens on the 26th March. Others will be chasing qualifying times for upcoming championships.

Marathoners Dewi Griffiths (handicap -5.2) and Josh Griffiths (handicap -6.0) will test themselves in Newport as part of their ongoing preparations for the trial event at the end of March.

Dewi has a PB. of 28:16.07 from 2017 and Josh was the 2017 British Marathon Champion. His last competitive outing was over the marathon distance in October when he set a PB. of 2:13.11. Kris Jones (handicap -6.3) is always a threat and will make a track debut over 10,000m. Jones will be looking to see how close he can get to the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 28:30.

James Hunt (handicap -6.1) and Mike Ward (handicap -5.1) will also be looking to test themselves against a stacked field.

Emile Cairess (handicap -6.2) has been in fine form over winter and, with a best of 28:48.15, has the pedigree to win outright. With a target pace of 14:10 at halfway from Ieuan Thomas (handicap -5.6) there will be best times for sure.

The women’s race looks like a lively affair with training partners, Charlotte Arter (handicap -2.4) and Clara Evans (handicap -1.4) finalising their marathon trial ambitions.

Arter is the fastest on paper with a best of 32:15.71.  Lily Partridge (handicap -1.4) has a similar PB of 32:20.77. The New Balance runner recorded popular wins at the Vitality Big Half Marathon and the Antrim Coast Half Marathon last year.

72-minute  half marathon runner, Clara Evans and Jennifer Nesbitt (handicap -1.5) will compete over the distance and should not be discounted.  Izzy Fry (handicap -1.5) and Sarah Astin (handicap-0.2) will chase qualifying times for the European U23 Championships in Bergen in July.