Elite Field Announced For 2014 Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon
Jess Coulson heads a strong women’s field for the 2014 Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday 5th October.
The Stockport Harrier took the European U23 Cross Country title in 2012 and has proved her road running prowess with a 33:00 minute best for 10km and 52:53 for 10 miles. She will now make her debut over the half marathon distance in Cardiff next month.
The 2013 Bath Half Marathon champion Perendis Lekapana, Joan Chelimo and Gladys Yator all of Kenya will aim to challenge Jess to the title won by Purity Kimetto (Kenya) in 2013.
Last year’s British Champion Tish Jones (Belgrave Harriers) will return to Cardiff to defend her title and compete for open race honours after improving her lifetime best to 72:55 at the Reading Half Marathon in March.
Rebecca Robinson (Kendal) who has run 73:22 and previously represented Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the World Half Marathon Championships, should feature along with Emma Stepto (Cornwall AC) who was the Bristol Half Marathon champion in 2013 in 73:40.
Lucy Macalister (Bristol & West), Emily Wicks (Aldershot, Farnham and District) and Ava Hutchinson (Cardiff AAC) have also all previously run sub-75 minutes. Ava won Team Gold at the European Cross Country Championships with Ireland in 2012 before competing in the 2012 Olympic Marathon.
Jessica Parry-Williams ran impressively last year to finish second in the British Half Marathon Championships and emphatically take the Welsh title in her home city. Jessica will return this year with Kate Roberts (Bridgend AC) and Emma Wookey (Lliswerry Runners), both looking to cause an upset.
The men’s field will see defending champion Loitarakwai Lengurisi, last year’s third placer Boniface Kongin and Ugandan Ben Siwa joined by Phil Wicks (Belgrave Harriers) who has previously run 62:51 for the distance. Other favourites for the British title include Nick Torry (Serpentine) who like Tish Jones will return to defend his British title won in Cardiff last year. Nick recently finished 13th in the Commonwealth Games Marathon, competing for England.
John Beattie (Newham & Essex Beagles), Tom Payn (Run Fast) and Neil Renault (Edinburgh AC) have all previously run under the 65 minute mark. Notably Matt Gunby (Woodford Green), Paul Martelleti (Victoria Park), Martin Williams (Tipton Harriers), Ben Fish (Blackburn) and Sebastian Reinwand (Germany) will also start.
Welsh interest will come as Ieuan Thomas and his Cardiff AAC clubmate Jon Hopkins, both debut at the half marathon. Jon will be looking to add a title to his Cardiff 10k victory in September. Phil Matthews (Swansea Harriers) won the Welsh title in 2010 and along with Joshua Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) will be the most likely to challenge Thomas and Hopkins.
