Running In Focus

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  • British Championships 5000m

    Mullarkey Claims British 5000m Title After Dramatic Championship Battle

    The men’s 5000m final at the 2026 Novuna UK Athletics Championships delivered one of the most compelling races of the weekend, with the outcome remaining uncertain until the closing stages despite a field packed with established international performers.

    From the gun, Jake Smith was determined to force the pace, as the athletes settled into the early laps. His aggressive approach stretched the field and ensured there would be little opportunity for the favourites to sit back and wait for a sprint finish.

    As the race developed, however, the script began to change. Several of the pre-race contenders found themselves losing contact with the leading group as the relentless pace took its toll. What had started as a tactical championship race gradually evolved into a test of endurance, resilience and positioning.

    Scott Beattie made a brave break in the later stages, but his move proved premature.

    The pace continued to increase and the championship remained impossible to call as the athletes approached the final laps.

    When the decisive moves came,Beattie dropped as Mullarkey proved strongest. Producing a powerful finish, he crossed the line to secure the British title in 13:27.00. Behind him, Andrew Butchart claimed silver in 13:27.52, with James West taking bronze in 13:27.75 after an engrossing battle that saw less than a second separate the first three finishers.

    Scott Beattie’s decisive break failed to secure a podium place but he finished an impressive fourth in 13:30.28, while Jack Kavanagh produced a personal best of 13:36.39 in fifth place. Further personal best performances came from Joe Wigfield and Oscar Bell, underlining the quality and depth of the field.

    With favourites dropping away, early leaders forcing the pace and the medals undecided until the closing stages, the men’s 5000m final provided championship racing at its very best and was one of the highlights of the Birmingham programme.

    Photos: Bill Scriven – Running In Focus

  • Welsh Junior Outdoor T&F Championships 2026

    Welsh Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships 2026 – Day 1

    The first day of the 2026 Welsh Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships brought together some of the country’s most promising young athletes as competitors from clubs across Wales gathered at Deeside Stadium for a full programme of track and field competition.

    Featuring U14, U16, U20 and Para categories, the championships provide one of the most important opportunities of the season for young athletes to compete for Welsh titles, championship medals and personal best performances. Across the track and in the field, athletes produced a series of impressive displays as they sought to establish themselves among Wales’ leading junior talents.

    Among the highlights of the opening day was a thrilling U14 Boys 800m contest. With athletes split across two time-trial races, the battle for the fastest overall time produced one of the most exciting middle-distance races of the day. Cardiff Athletics pair Farley Prichard and Jacob Moss ultimately topped the standings with times of 2:09.12 and 2:10.05 respectively, but the duel between Rowan Carson of Bridgend AC and Zac Munn of Cardiff Athletics was a classic championship encounter.

    Drawn together in the first time trial, Carson and Munn matched each other stride for stride throughout much of the race before Carson edged ahead in the closing stages to record 2:10.71, just 0.43 seconds clear of Munn’s 2:11.14. Their fierce battle captivated spectators and demonstrated the competitive depth emerging within Welsh junior middle-distance running.

    Elsewhere, Harri Morris of Deeside AAC clocked 2:13.74, while Sebby Carwardine of Newport Harriers ran 2:14.00 in another closely fought contest. Across both time trials, athletes delivered a series of strong performances that underlined the quality of competition throughout the championships.

    From sprint races and middle-distance contests to jumps, throws and para events, Day 1 delivered a packed schedule of competition and highlighted the depth of emerging talent within Welsh athletics. With more championship titles still to be decided, athletes will return for Day 2 looking to add to their medal collections and finish the weekend on a high.