By Rob Cole
Dewi Griffiths’ pursuit of a ‘Magnificent Seven’ Welsh cross country titles is hanging in the balance with the Swansea Harrier leaving his final decision on whether to run at Singleton Park on Saturday to the last minute.
The 26-year-old suffered a tight hamstring in the closing stages of his incredible marathon debut in Frankfurt in October, when he ran the fastest time by a British athlete over the distance since 2014 with 2:09.49, and then pulled his hamstring while leading at the European Cross Country Championships two months later.
His first competitive race back was in a high-class Armagh 5K road race last weekend and, since then, his body has been aching. While his performance in Northern Ireland was hugely encouraging, he knows he still has a little bit to go before he is back to his supreme form of 2017.
“It was good to be back racing in Armagh and 14:07 was a pretty competitive time. I think I got carried away to begin with and I was leading on the first lap,” said Griffiths.
“It is one of my favourite races of the year, but I seized up in the end and my body was aching the day after. It was a huge step in the right direction, although I know there is plenty to work on.
“With seven weeks to go to the Commonwealth Games I surprised myself with what I had in the tank. There is nothing major wrong, my hamstring is fine, but I’ve just got to get used to running 100 miles a week again.”
Griffiths has dominated Welsh distance running in recent years and is the undisputed king over the country. His reign as Welsh cross-country champion began in 2012 at St Fagan’s when he won by 41 seconds from Cardiff’s Jorge Thomas.
He had a close shave in 2013, winning by a mere two seconds from Tipton’s Ian Mitchell, but since then his dominance has grown. Last year, in Swansea, he came home 1 min, 27 sec ahead of the rest of the field.
“I love running in the Welsh championships and I’m still hoping I can race this weekend. I will leave it to the 11th hour before making a final decision,” said Griffiths.
“The Commonwealth Games and beyond is the long term goal, but it would be great to make it seven titles in a row. I still have a few weeks to go before I head to the Gold Coast and then I will have a month out there to get in tip-top shape for the 5,000 and 10,000 metres.
“I was really pleased with my first few sessions back after the injury and I know the fitness is still there. It is just a case of getting used to the workload again and regaining my speed.
“It will come, I know it will. I showed in Armagh that my basic fitness is good because I was inside my target time of 14:10.”
Sam Stabler won in Armagh in a lifetime best of 13:59, one second ahead of North Walian Charlie Hulson. Welsh Commonwealth Games steeplechaser Jonathan Hopkins was another athlete who clocked a personal best in eighth (14:05), with Griffiths two seconds back in 11th.
Dewi Griffiths’ Winning Run
2012 (St Fagans): 1, Dewi Griffiths (Swansea) 35:38 (winning margin 41 sec); 2, Jorge Thomas (Cardiff) 36:19; 3, Richard Gardiner (Aberdare) 36:28
2013 (Crickhowell): 1, Dewi Griffiths (Swansea) 33:06 (winning margin 2 sec); 2, Ian Mitchell (Tipton) 33:08; 3, Phil Matthews (Swansea) 33:11
2014 (Llandeilo): 1, Dewi Griffiths (Swansea) 34:22 (winning margin 71 sec); 2, Jonathon Hopkins (Cardiff) 35:33; 3, Marc Hobbs (Swansea) 36:06
2015 (Corwen): 1, Dewi Griffiths (Swansea) 34:16 (winning margin 34 sec);; 2, Marc Hobbs (Swansea) 34:50; 3, Phil Matthews (Swansea) 34:58
2016 (Swansea): 1, Dewi Griffiths (Swansea) 35:34 (winning margin 80 sec); 2, Robert Samuel (Eryri) 36:54; 3, Chris Carpanini (Swansea) 37:18
2017 (Swansea): 1, Dewi Griffiths (Swansea) 33:40 (winning margin 87 sec); 2, Ryan McFlynn (M Morris RT) 35:07; 3, Iolo Hughes (Sale) 35:12