THE SEVEN secondary schools in Brianne held their NAS/UWT Athletics Cup Qualifier match in Carmarthen all hoping to make it to the Dyfed final in a few weeks’ time which follows onto the Nationals.
Dyffryn Aman, Maes Y Gwendraeth, Bro Myrddin, Bro Dinefwr, QE High, Dyffryn Taf and Llandovery College brought teams to Johnstown for the annual event split up in two age groups – Juniors (years 7 & 8) and Middle (years 9 & 10).
There was a successful day for the young Ysgol Bro Myrddin squads as they won the Junior boys while coming second in both the junior girls and middle boys.
Joining them in the next round will be the middle Llandovery College boys who picked up very good performances in this age group. Filling in the remaining spots will be Ysgol Dyffryn Taf and Ysgol Bro Dinefwr who have two teams each going through.
The school from Whitland will see the junior boys and middle girls travel down the road to Pembroke while teams of girls will represent the Llandeilo secondary school after good wins in the middle and junior respectively.
The NAS/UWT Cup was also contested between the other three Dyfed areas over the last few days in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Llanelli. The top two teams in each of the categories have been selected to represent their area at the Dyfed schools final at St Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest. It takes place on Wednesday, June 21, (first event at 11.30am)
The weekend last was set for a two-day competition in Johnstown for the big Dyfed Schools Athletics Championships which would start on Friday evening and be completed 24 hours later. However the weather played its part again.
Organisers were confident in getting the championship under way but with the rain getting heavier throughout the morning and standing water on the track, the decision was to cancel the day’s action resulting in disappointment for athletes and spectators alike. Saturday was due to see an eight-hour programme take place.
In comparison, the weather conditions were ideal on Friday evening for part 1 with the sun breaking through. The 300m & 400m hurdles kicked things off and there were wins for William Hughes Preseli in the middle boys (62.1) and Lydia Thomas STP in the senior girls (70.3) while in the U17G Niamh Roberts Coedcae was the winner (49.3) with Olwen Batten Preseli in second (55.9) Last year’s champion Owain Nicholas Bro Gwaun was a familiar winner in the 1000m walk (5.00.0) and he was followed in by Mollie Dainton Coedcae (5.28.5) and Henry White STP (6.08.1)
The biggest turn out of the evening came in the 3000m where runners ran 7 and a half laps of the track. Having won several races over the past few months, Thomas Jones continued his fine form with another win, this time in the senior age group (9.16.7).
His Harriers teammate Tomos Rees was the next to cross the line and in the process win the middle boys category (9.30.5) Rhys Davies Preseli was not too far behind (10.08.3) with the Dyffryn Aman trio Cameron Davies (10.39.2) Rhys Evans (11.32.1) and James Oulsnam (11.33.2) coming in next.
Second and third places in the senior category behind Jones went to Morgan Llywelyn Dyffryn Aman (10.14.7) and David Evans STP (10.27.9). Alice Evans STP was the only girl to compete and won her age group (11.53.3)
There was just the one competitor each in the two field events on the event programme: Harry Davies St Michaels broke the junior boys Dyfed schools record which stood for 27 years on his first attempt of 42.88m. Ben Woodnutt also from St Michaels cleared a height of 3.45m in the pole vault for middle boys.
With these championships following on to the Welsh Schools Nationals in Cardiff on July 1, selectors will select the best possible Dyfed team to compete in the Welsh capital.
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