JOSH CELEBRATED TOP-THREE FINISH AND WELSH AGE CATEGORY TITLE

*Josh Keogh won his 'Senior Man' age category at the Welsh one-mile championships

Josh celebrated top-three finish and Welsh age category title

*Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.

North Wales Road Runner Josh Keogh celebrated a great performance in last weekend’s Welsh Athletics one-mile virtual championships, finishing 2^nd overall, with two other club runners claiming podium positions in their respective age groups.

Staged as an unusual out-and-back race, and held over three days amidst very difficult weather conditions, the race proved to be a very close encounter, as Josh finished just 14 seconds behind the eventual winner Alex Jackson (U20M) from Cardiff AC, who ran home in an incredible time of just 4 mins 39 seconds.

Josh though, added the Welsh 'Senior Man' title to his excellent top-three placing, recording a great time of 4.53, and secured 2^nd spot by a mere 5 seconds ahead of 3^rd placed rival Nic Brook from Eyri Harriers, who was 1^st M45 cat.

This prestigious first virtual Welsh championship one-mile race, run under strict Covid-19 restrictions, attracted 336 quality entrants for the first of a series of new one-to-three-mile winter virtual challenge events, and included eight NWRRC athletes.

Additional podium club winners were Steve Bozier, who overcame gale-force winds and heavy rain to finish 34^th overall, and was 3^rd in his M40 age cat in 5.40; whilst veteran Don Hale claimed his second Welsh title within a few weeks, by adding the M65 one-mile title to his recent 10k victory. Don finished 146th overall in 7.02, and was 15 seconds ahead of second-placed Malc Gonnella, from Fairwater Runners in 7.17.

*Steve Bozier (above) and (below) veteran NWRRC runner Don Hale. 

Both runners won their Welsh championship age categories in the mile race.

Additional results involved Stuart Culverhouse, who was the third club runner home in 58^th place in 5.59, with James Jones 70^th in 6.06, Steve Roberts recorded 6.33, whilst Gethin Wyn-Jones continued his return to form finishing in 130^th place in 6.53. 

                                                                         *Stuart Culverhouse

*Helen Hannam (above) and Mia Morris (below)

For the Ladies, Helen Hannam finished well in 146^th position in 7.39, with Kelly Alford 214^th in 8.21. 

*And Mia Morris, the teenage daughter of club runners, Rachel and Karl Morris, ran extremely well on her championship debut, representing Colwyn Bay, in 149^th place in 7.05, as the 8^th U15 girl.