Wales’ Fastest Woman, Hannah Brier, Has A New Young Rival

By Owen Morgan

Wales’ fastest woman Hannah Brier gained one championship record and lost another on a historic weekend of athletics in Cardiff.

The first record to fall at the Welsh Indoor Senior and Under-15 Athletics Championships was the number of competitors taking part.

An entry of 614 athletes at Cardiff’s National Indoor Athletics Centre (NIAC) made it the biggest in the event’s 48-year history.

And the huge turn out helped produce a glut of outstanding displays including new Welsh age grade records and championship best performances.

One of those championship bests fell to Brier who eclipsed World Championships medallist Seren Bundy Davies’ ten-year-old 400m mark of 55.36 when the Swansea Harrier won her semi-final in 54.16.

Brier went on to win the final in 54.37, ahead of Sian Harry, of Belgrave Harriers in 55.27 and Ffion Mair Roberts, of Menai Track and Field, who clocked 56.01.

But while Brier may have gained one championship best, she lost another to Aliyah Afolabi, who had a weekend to remember.

On Saturday, the Cardiff Archer set a new championship best performance of 7.62 when she won the Under-15 60m title.