World Championships steeplechaser Ieuan Thomas picked up his second Nos Galan Road Race title as he won the New Year’s Eve Race in Mountain Ash.
Beaten by two seconds in a sprint finish by Swansea Harrier Kristian Jones in 2016, the Commonwealth Games bound Thomas left nothing to chance this time as he hit the front in the closing stages of the 5k race and took the tape in 14 min, 29 sec.
That kept him three seconds clear of fellow Cardiff AAC athlete Matt Clowes and a further second ahead of reigning champion Jones. Conditions made for a slower race than the previous year’s record time of 14:11 by Jones.
Thomas, who was the Welsh champion in the Cardiff Half Marathon in 2014, enjoyed a tremendous 2017 as he hit the track once again and stripped seven seconds off his steeplechase best (8:33.59) to not only reach the British team for the London Championships, but also qualify for the Gold Coast this year.
A stalwart of the world renowned race, launched in 1958 by former Welsh Athletics supremo Bernard Baldwin, Thomas was 14th in 2015, 4th in 2014 and 2nd in 2013. Former Welsh rugby great Colin Charvis and world championship boxer Nathan Cleverly were the Mystery Runners on the night.
Swansea’s Alaw Beynon-Thomas won the women’s race in 16:49, finishing a minute clear of clubmate Sian Edwards. Cardiff’s Charlotte Arter won in 2016 in 16 min.