Wednesday 13 March 2019
The Indoor Season came to an end with European Championships held in Glasgow, during 1st to 3rd March, Cardiff had 2 athletes in the GB team Owen Smith 400m (pictured) and Joseph Reid, 800m both coached by Matt Elias. Both athletes are in Cardiff Met University. Owen from Deeside North Wales, has been competing for Cardiff's BAL Ptemier team since 2016. This winter his Indoor season has been successful. He finished 2nd in the British Championships 400m Final with 46.27i leading to selection for the GB team in the European Championships. Owen got through the heats held on the first evening finishing 2nd in 47.50i The next day he was 5th in the first 400m semi final in 47.39, unfortunately only first 3 make the 400m final. Racing over 2 days, he was not selected for the Relay team, held on the third and final day. However he will gain from experience in competing at European level. His place in the relay was taken by Joe Brier (Swansea H.) coached by Matt Elias.
Joseph Reid 800m Cardiff Met/Manx H., lives on Isle of Man, and won England U23 800m title in 2018. He represented Isle of Man in the Commonwealth Games, and wore vest in British ID Championships Trials for GB team in European Championships in Glasgow.
Joseph competed in our BAL Premier men's league team over 400m and 800m. When home from Cardiff Met, Joseph competes for Cardiff's team under Higher Claims status.
Joseph had a successful ID season, winning the ID Trials 800m, thus automatic qualification for GB team. In European 800m he was successful in making through his Heat race to semi final races. However he was 6th in Semi Final 1 race. Joseph will have learnt from his indoor racing programme.
Racing 800m indoors with 6 lanes, with very tight bends, means a good start is vital, as it's very difficult to pass runners. Outdoors on 8 lane tracks. runners do not have same problem, passing other runners.
An example was shown in British and European ID races with runners being disqualified for impeding other runners.
A British runner in European 800m SF 2 race, tried to pass an Irish runner on the inside resulting in British runner falling and DNF, and the Irish losing ground to finish 5th in SF.
Following an appeal by Ireland, the Irish runner was reinstated to Final race, with 7 runners in Final, instead of normal 6 runners. Mark English Ireland, finished 3rd in Final, gaining a bronze medal, a very happy man, and Irish team.
800m race was won by Alvaro de Arriba Spain 1.46.83 from gun to tape, making sure of no problems with other runners. Jamie Webb GB 2nd 1.47.13. Mark English Ireland 3rd 1.47.39. Three races in three days, a tough programme.
Official club photography supplied by Paul Stillman
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