Welsh athletics will be represented in the 2017 IAAF World Championships men’s marathon in London this Sunday by two rather unconventional members of Great Britain’s squad.
The home team of the Championships are off to a flying start after Mo Farah’s stunning triumph in the men’s 10,000m despite considerable pressure from Ethiopian and Kenyan runners. British hopes this Sunday are partly pinned on two Welshmen.
Josh Griffiths, 23, and late-call up Andrew Davies, 37, of Carmarthenshire and Montgomeryshire respectively, will compete in the marathon through the street of London at 10.55am on 6th February.
Griffiths was the top British finisher in the Virgin Money London Marathon in April when he finished in 13th place overall in what was his marathon debut.
Welsh champion Davies, who came to marathon in 2007 after a career in football, finished 16th in the elite field of the same competition.
Both will be joined in the Great Britain team by 25 year-old Scot Callum Hawkins, who also raced at the Rio Summer Olympics last year.
A look at the back stories of Griffiths and Davies makes remarkable reading. Neither appears to have followed the traditional route of athletics training.
Griffiths, a runner who was not even part of the elite field in the London Marathon, is self-trained after choosing to operate without a coach. Sunday marks just his second ever marathon.
Former Caersws FC (the ‘other’ Bluebirds) midfielder Davies, traditionally a fell runner, has an unusual training partner - his dog, Scrappy.
While GB are not expected to challenge the traditional African marathon powerhouses this time, although Hawkins did finish a credible 9th in Rio, it will give home fans something to cheer.
To get at least one runner into the top 10 during this competition would represent a good achievement for the team; to finish with two within this tranche would be nothing short of remarkable.
Griffiths especially could represent both Wales and Great Britain for years to come across a range of a marathon competitions.
With Mo Farah intending to move into marathon after this season however, the Welsh contingent will face a selection challenge in the future and need to be on top of their game.