By Owen Morgan
Jake Heyward made a dream debut in the mile to clocked the second-fastest time in history by a Welsh athlete in London.
The Cardiff runner’s time of 3:54.78 was just 0.39secs off the record set by Newport’s Neil Horsfield in Cork 33 years ago.
Heyward was part of a star-studded field for the prestigious and historic Emsley Carr Mile at London Stadium.
In what turned out to be the fastest mile race since 2003, the 20-year-old produced a stunning run as he continues his return to fitness after injury which hit his recent European U23 Championship hopes.
With Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera taking the win in 3:49.45, Heyward finished 10th ahead of the likes of New Zealand’s two-time Olympic medallist Nick Willis.
The time also saw his immediately move ahead of coach James Thie on the all-time rankings with his best 0f 3:57.86 now leaving him fifth.
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Few athletes run a 3:54.78 mile in their debut at the distance! Just 0.39s off 33yr old @WelshAthletics record! Similar to last year when just 0.30s off 39yr old UK U20 1500m best! The sheer fact @jakeheyward7 is within touching distance of them shows his class & hard work👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/ntoi5Tzp3X
— James Thie (@TeamThie) July 21, 2019
Poole’s Melissa Courtney and paralympian Olivia Breen also competed at the Muller Anniversary Games Diamond League Meeting.
In an equally stacked 5,000m field, Courtney took to the track, but failed to finish after pulling out in the latter stages as Kenyan World Champion Hellen Obiri ran a world leading time.
In the T35-38 100m Breen, clocked a personal best as she finished second to Sophie Hahn in 13.08.
The streets of London were paved with gold and bronze for Welsh athletes on Sunday morning.
Swansea Harrier Josh Griffiths won the ASCIS London 10K in a time of 29:47 ahead of Joshua Grace in 29:56.
The victory was Griffiths’ second 10K win on the bounce having won the Porthcawl 10K at the start of the month.
The 2017 World Athletics Championships marathon competitor was followed home in third place by a man who will be running in this year’s World Championship marathon – Dewi Griffiths.
Fellow Swansea Harrier Griffiths picked up the bronze medal, clocking a time of 30:12, having pulled out of the Night of 10,000 PBs in London earlier this month.
There was also an excellent performance from Newport’s Abed Teweldebrhan, who finished fourth in 30:22.
In the women’s race, Cardiff’s Clara Evans claimed a highly creditable fourth place as she crossed the line in 35:26 behind winner Rebecca Murray.