USA Bound. . . Welsh Marathon Runner Josh Griffiths Selected By Great Britain For The World Athletics Championships

By Owen Morgan

Welsh marathon runner Josh Griffiths has been selected to represent Great Britain at a second World Athletics Championships.

The Swansea Harrier, who competed at the London games five years ago, is now on his way to this summer’s championships in Oregon.

Griffiths famously emerged from the ranks of the club runners at the 2017 London Marathon to qualify for the World Championships on the capital’s streets later that year.

Running alongside fellow Welsh athlete Andy Davies, Griffiths finished in 39th place, clocking 2:20.06.

Since then, the Carmarthenshire athlete has continued to develop at pace, representing Wales at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games where he finished 17th in searing temperatures.

World Championships 🌎🇬🇧
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Delighted to be selected for the 2022 World Championships! Oregon here we come 🇺🇸
.#WCHOregon22 https://t.co/5anWOl37h2 pic.twitter.com/4IcgQwUImV

— Josh Griffiths (@JoshGriffRun) March 8, 2022

Just last month, Griffiths lowered his personal best to 2:11.28 in Seville, making him the fourth fastest Welsh marathon runner in history and the number one ranked British athlete over 26.2 miles this year.

The 28-year-old is one of five British athletes to be selected for the men’s and women’s marathons on the 17th and 18th of July respectively at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Griffiths will be joined by Olympians Jess Piasecki (Stockport) and Chris Thompson (Aldershot Farnham and District), along with Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot Farnham and District) and Rose Harvey (Clapham Chasers).

Cardiff-based Jake Smith did not wish to be considered for selection for the men’s marathon.

Britain’s team leader for the World Athletics Championships 2022, Paula Dunn, said: “We are really pleased to be announcing our first five athletes for this summer’s World Athletics Championships in Oregon.

Josh Griffiths crosses the line at the World Athletics Championships in London.

“This is a significant milestone, and I am delighted to be welcoming these athletes onto the British team to represent the country in July.

“We’ve seen some excellent performances from our marathon runners in recent weeks and months, which led to a really competitive selection.

“It is a great to have experienced marathon runners on the team, and also a new face in Rose who will be making her debut in a British vest.

“They’ve all earned their place on the squad, so I wish them all the best as they prepare for the championships.”

It’s been an exciting few days for Welsh endurance athletes.

Bethan Davies wearing her gold medal on the podium in Birmingham.

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Bethan Davies finished 18th at the World Race Walking Championships in Muscat – just days after winning gold at the British Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

The Cardiff athlete’s placing in Oman was the best finish by a British woman in the history of the event. Walking in soaring temperatures, Davies covered the 20km loop course in 1:42:25.

Meanwhile, fellow Cardiff athlete Charlotte Arter lowered her own Welsh 10K record by four seconds at last weekend’s Trafford 10K.