Distance Prospect Osian Perrin Minds The Gap In Watford To Shatter 44-Year Old Welsh Junior 5000m Record

By Owen Morgan

Rising young Welsh distance athlete Osian Perrin produced a sensational run to break the 44-year-old Welsh junior 5,000m record in Watford on Saturday.

At the end of a thrilling 5,000m B race where Perrin swapped the lead with Dominic Nolan several times, the Menai Track and Field athlete broke the tape in 13:53.03.

Perrin’s time broke Adrian Leek’s previous record of 14:07.2 set in Aldershot way back in 1977.

Top brake through from osian Perrin who is first in the u20 5000m trial in Watford in 13:53.20- a welsh junior record..

— Ian Hodge (@IanHodge7) June 12, 2021

The performance is the fastest by a British under-20 athlete this year and the 10th fastest ever by a British junior.

Perrin’s brilliant run also earned him the qualifying standard for next month’s European Under-20 Championships in Estonia.

The Welsh Under-17 cross country champion already held the Welsh under-17 3,000m record set in Swansea two years ago.

There were a number of other personal best performances by Welsh athletes in Watford on Saturday.

Cardiff’s Cari Hughes finished fifth in the women’s 1500m A race celebrating a new PB of 4:16.14.

Young Carmarthen Harriers team mates Iestyn Williams and Dafydd Jones claimed new PBs. Williams clocked a new best of 1:52.84 to win the 800m F race, while Jones registered a new best of 14:36.07 in the 5,000m B race.

A high quality 400m saw Swansea Harrier Joe Brier continue his good form to finish third in 46.32, while Cardiff’s Owen Smith was fourth in a season’s best 46.37.