GREAT Britain steeplechaser Ieuan Thomas would love to pick up a national title today when he tackles the 1500m at the Welsh Championships in Cardiff.

The Pontypool ace finished fifth in the same race last year before going on to qualify for the London World Championships in his favoured event.

Next month’s European Championships in Berlin are in Thomas’ sights this time around, with the Cardiff AAC runner due to be named in the British team in just over a fortnight.

Having already achieved the qualifying standard, Thomas, 28, came home second at the British Championships late last month.

Thomas will go up against the likes of Newport Harriers’ Abed Teweldebrhan at the Cardiff International Sports Campus this afternoon, keen to keep building his flat speed with the Europeans in mind.

“I try to limit the amount of steeplechases I do because of the risk of injury and stress it puts on your body,” he said.

“It’s a chance to get some good training and speed work in, try something different and have some fun.

“I don’t run the 1500m very often so I’m not sure what to expect, and it depends on the conditions and tactics.

“I want to win, have a good run and go close to my personal best.

“I’m feeling great and training has been going well, I can’t have any complaints.”

He added: “Winning a national title is always special, especially when it’s not over your favoured distance.

“It makes it even tougher but if you can come away with a win then it will make it a really good day.”

The 101st Welsh Championships got under way last night with 800m, 400m and 200m heats, as well as finals of the women’s high jump, triple jump, discus and javelin and men’s pole vault.

Pontypool’s Macey Jones won women’s triple jump silver last year when competing for Cwmbran Harriers but wasn’t involved yesterday due to a knee injury.

Someone else who won’t be competing today is Newport’s Winter Olympian Mica Moore, who finished eighth alongside Mica McNeill in the bobsleigh at Pyeongchang 2018.

Sadly, a few niggling injuries means Moore won’t be able to defend the women’s 100m title she won in Cardiff 12 months ago.

However, there are plenty of other Gwent athletes who competing for medals in the Welsh capital.

And while Moore is missing, the region is well represented in the sprint events.

Newport Harriers’ Zoe Nash and former clubmate Tyler Williams will hope to have made the finals of the women’s 100m and 200m.

The same goes for Newport’s Tom Evans in the men’s 100m and Cwmbran Harriers’ India Jenkins and Blackwood’s Caitlyn Mapps (Cardiff Archers) in the women’s 200m.

Jenkins also goes in the 400m along with Amelia Hill of Blaenau Gwent AC and former Cwmbran Harriers’ ace Gabrielle Fakande, now running for Swansea Harriers.

Former Newport Harriers club member Daniel Snelling is entered in the men’s 400m.

Newport Harriers duo Owen Locke and Sinead Gray have a medal in their sights over two laps, as does Isobel Parry-Jones, who also takes on the 800m.

In the field, Daniel Cork, Gwennan Lewis and Hannah O’Connor will bid for glory in the men’s and women’s shot put competitions.

Kyle Arnold and Thomas Rees hope to be leaping for joy in the men’s long jump, while Mapps, recently crowned the Welsh Schools champion, goes in the women’s event.

Parc Bryn Bach Running Club’s Lauren Cooper was scheduled to go in the final of the women’s 2000m steeplechase last night.

Meanwhile, the championships also feature events for under-15s, and there are a whole host of Gwent athletes taking part in those.

Newport Harriers, Rhymney Valley AC, Blaenau Gwent AC and Cwmbran Harriers are all represented in individual disciplines and relays.