Omar Ahmed completed his Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay 10K hat-trick as he clinched his third straight title in the Welsh capital.
In cold, blustery conditions, the 24-year-old again went head-to-head with multiple Welsh champion Dewi Griffiths, and got the upper hand once more to claim a third successive victory.
In the women’s race, Swedish athlete Carolina Wikström outgunned Welsh Marathon Record holder Natasha Cockram over the shorter distance to earn her maiden title on her first appearance on Welsh soil.
The event, which forms part of the Run 4 Wales 10K Series, welcomed close to 6000 runners across a number of races.
Ahmed led from former title holder Griffiths at the 5K mark, building up an 11 second lead as he passed halfway in 14 minutes and 25 seconds. Birchfield Harrier Ahmed kicked on to pull away and retain his crown in emphatic fashion with a time of 29:01. Griffiths was a full 57 seconds back in second place, ahead of Tomas Crockett (30:12) in third.
“I’m feeling so proud to come back here and defend my title again,”said Ahmed. “The weather was really windy so I just wanted to keep going to the finish line.
“Dewi was sticking with me through 5K so I really had to up my pace, but I felt good and I just kept going and left him behind towards the end of the race. I’ve won it three times in a row now which is amazing and I want to keep coming back to win it a fourth time.”
It was another frustrating race for Griffiths, who has suffered with injury and illness over the course of the last three years. But despite his setbacks, the West Walian is looking to build again with the London Marathon looming.
“It was a good effort, I would obviously like to be more competitive with Omar, but he’s running really well,” said Griffiths. “I’ve been through an iffy patch with a back issue and it’s been busy at home on the farm too. Hopefully this race brings me on a bit and things go my way when I race at London in a few weeks.
“It’s been disheartening at times because every time I start training well and feeling good something else seems to knock me back. I may not be at my vintage best but I still have motivation to see going and set some new PBs in the future.”
Wilkstrom was neck and neck with Cockram through the halfway mark as the pair hit 5K in 16:24. But the Swede turned up the pace at 8K, and Cockram could not match her as Wilkstrom took the tape in 32:54, 16 seconds ahead of the Micky Morris Racing Team runner. Hannah Irwin (33:16 was third ahead of Clara Evans of Cardiff.
“It’s my first time in Wales, the cold didn’t bother me but I was worried about the wind,” said the new champion Wilkstrom. “It was a very good race and the course is very flat, I didn’t know how much of a gap I had on Natasha so I just kept pushing and I’m really happy to have won here.”
The event also hosted a competitive wheelchair race, with serial winner Richie Powell taking the title ahead of Rob Price in a time of 32:24.
The ABP Newport Wales 10K is the next stop on the Run 4 Wales 10K Series on the 16th April, before it heads to Barry and Porthcawl in the summer.
Men’s Race Results
Omar Ahmed – 29:01
Dewi Griffiths – 29:58
Thomas Crockett – 30:12
Dafydd Jones – 30:22
Shaun Antell – 30:24
Women’s Race Results
Carolina Wikström – 32:54
Natasha Cockram – 33:10
Hannah Irwin – 33:16
Clara Evans – 33:26
Megan Davies – 34:15
Wheelchair Race Results
Richie Powell – 32:24
Ron Price – 38:36
Will Lampard – 43:40
Full Results – Click HERE.
