Race Preview

With just over 24 hours to go the excitement is really building with the 2012 edition of the Armagh International 5k having the potential to be the best in history. As usual, we have a truly international line-up, with American, English, Finish, Irish and Polish athletes all likely to be in the mix.

Christian Hesch leads the way in 2008

Sub-4 miler and 3 times winner Christian Hesch leads the American charge in this year’s race, as he aims to regain the title he last won in 2008 when clocking 13.57. It will surely take something in the sub-14 region to take the title this year, so it is only fitting that he is joined by 3 other American’s with sub-14 minute pb’s; Michael Crouch, Landon Peacock and Lex Williams.

Jonny Mellor

Meanwhile, a multi-pronged English assault on the Armagh crown shall be lead by last year’s runner-up Jonny Mellor. The Liverpool Harrier went from strength to strength following last year’s race, posting big pb’s of 13.36 and 28.50 for 5/10k. His good form has followed on into this winter, and having improved every year at Armagh, finishing 18^th, 8^th and 2^nd over the last 3 years, is he destined to take the title this year? Alongside Mellor, James Walsh also had somewhat of a breakthrough summer, again posting 5k and 10k pb’s (13.39/28.37). His winter season has had many highlights so far, including 15^th place at the European XC Championships in Slovenia and retaining his Midlands XC title, and he will be looking to add to these tomorrow night. Another athlete who shone at the European XC Championships was James Wilkinson, who will be running for Team Puma. He took u23 silver with a terrific run, and definitely has un-tapped potential over 5k, so certainly one to watch out for. A couple more athletes likely to be to the fore are Ashley Harrell and Andy Wiles. The former took bronze at the BUCS XC Champs last weekend and has a 10k best of 30.18 from December, whilst the later has a great mix of speed and endurance with 2011 pb’s of 3.43 and 29.46 for 1500m and 10k receptively.

Luke Cragg

Last, but by no means least, is one of our feature athletes, Luke Cragg. His video interview was very insightful and off the back of a 65 minute half-marathon in Spain, and a victory at the Alsager 5 just days ago, he will be looking to keep the momentum going. His new training base in Loughborough clearly seems to be working for him, and he puts this down to the fact “it’s just a group of like-minded guys training hard”. Cragg’s 5k and 10k pb’s stand at 13.41 and 29.10, and like Hesch, Mellor and Walsh, he most definitely deserves the label as one of the pre-race favourites.

Luke Cragg Interview

AAA interview with Luke Cragg - Armagh, Alsager and America.

Lisa Dobriskey Interview

We talk South Africa and chocolate in our pre-race interview with 2009 1500m World Silver Medallist Lisa Dobriskey!

Dewi Griffiths Interview

We caught up with Wales and Great Britain international Dewi Griffiths, just a week out from race day. Dewi has been a regular over the last few years, and here he shares his thoughts with us.

Many will be familiar with your name I’m sure, but not with your training set up. Can you tell us a little bit about this?

Well I’m currently in my second year at Swansea University so based in Swansea.  I meet up with my coach (Kevin Evans) on the Thursday nights on the track back in Carmarthen and also drop in to the Swansea Harriers sessions now and again when it suits.  I’ve got everything a distance runner needs at my door so it’s ideal for my running.

You have excelled on all surfaces in the past, with international honours on the road, track, xc and mountains. What is your favourite?

It’s hard to say what my favourite is really.  I tend to just like to mix it up through the season by doing a road race or two in the middle of a cross country season or something.  A change is as good as a rest, the old saying goes.  At the moment I think it’s the road because that’s where I had the biggest success lately, which oddly was the one that was my least favourite a couple of years ago.

While we are on the topic, what would you consider your biggest accomplishment in the sport to date?

There have been races and runs that stand out for me, such as recently the half marathon, 6-stage domestically and European Juniors and World Mountain Champs internationally.  I’ve got to say though my greatest achievement on a personal level is finishing fourth and subsequently gaining my first GB vest, in the UK Inter-Counties Cross Country in the Junior Men's race as a 16 year old with, looking back, not that much training in the legs.  I did run out of my skin that day and had absolutely nothing left come the finish line.

Moving on, what are your targets going forward? Is the Commonwealth Games in the back of your mind?

I think its got to be on my mind.  I know if you look at my times on power of 10 they might seem miles away, but I firmly believe that I could go a lot faster than my pbs, which is a nice place to be as a developing athlete.  A few of my pbs, such as the 10k, were done on not a flat race that I led from gun to tape.  So hopefully I will run a fast course 10k in 2012 and see what I really could run.  To be honest I’ll be disappointed if I don’t make it because I think I have a realistic chance of qualifying. 

You have raced Armagh a few times now, so what is it that has made you want to come back and toe the line again year after year?

This year will be my fourth time there.  I’ve ran for Wales there the previous three years and gone quicker every year.  It’s just a great race to be part of with great atmosphere with no other race that I’ve run getting close to it.  Also the standard of the field is always good which helps drag you along for the faster times.  Hopefully I can beat my 14.31 I clocked last year.

And post-Armagh, what are your targets?

I hope to finish the cross country season strongly by hopefully have a good run in the UK Inter-Counties and hopefully the home nations international. Then I'll probably do a few road races over Easter such as the 12-Stage, before giving the track season a good go.

Best of luck next week Dewi, and cheers for your time!