2026 Elite Race Report: Fast times, tight finishes and a new course record

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2026 Elite Race Report: Fast times, tight finishes and a new course record

ABP Newport Marathon Festival | NEWPORT, WALES

It was fast times, tight finishes, with a new course record set in the largest ever 2026 ABP Newport Marathon Festival.

More than 10,500 runners registered to take part across the marathon, half marathon, 10K and junior races.

However it was the half marathon distance which saw an exciting neck and neck race between Adam Bowden and Joel Redman, with a new record set in the women’s race by Natasha WIlson – who smashed the previous result by more than six minutes.

Marathon

Bridgend Athletics runner, Jacob Tasker, won this year’s men’s marathon. Tasker, who usually feels more at home running on the trails and in the hills, took on the flat and fast course, to take the title with a time of 02:21:07.

He said: “Trails are my forte, so it was a little bit strange today, I was waiting for a hill just to get a little bit of a break, but the bridge at the end offered a little bit of that. It was a brilliant course and perfect conditions today – the support was amazing and the crowds really got you going, so thank you to everyone who came out to support.”

It was an emotional win for Samantha Antell (Bideford Athletics) who took the win in the women’s race in 02:43:15. She smashed all her goals she’d set herself for this year’s race, with a lead of more than 12 minutes and a lifetime best to go with it.

Antell said: “I love this course, it’s the third time I’ve done it, and I’m really pleased with how today went. I had three goals – to get a PB, to get the Bideford all-time club record and to win – so I’m really pleased to have achieved these.

“Last year I did two marathons block – I did Manchester in 2:44 and Chester in 2:44. My training has been very similar and I wasn’t sure if there was a PB in there but I’ve been thinking about it a lot and put a lot in it and when it just comes together, you’re just really pleased.”

Antell, who was also wearing glitter on her hand, added that it “symbolised going for gold”.

“I put a lot into my training,” she said, “so when you’re going through those hard bits, just think ‘gold’. Gold doesn’t even mean winning, although today it does, but it means giving your best. Whatever I do, I always try to do my best.”

Half Marathon

Adam Bowden (Bridgend Athletics), who has also been a steeplechaser and triathlete before coming back to athletics, was neck and neck with Joel Redman during the last 200m of the men’s half marathon. However, he just pipped the Cardiff Athletics Club runner to the finish line with a time of 01:09:57.

He said: “Today was up and down and there was a bit of doubt, but you always have to think to yourself ‘how much do you want it?’, so I dug deep. I’m absolutely blown away to win as I don’t do any specific sessions any more, I just run because I enjoy running. It’s just years and years of experience and I had to use that today.”

In the women’s half marathon distance, Natasha Wilson (Mickey Morris Racing Team), set a new course record with a time of 01:11:17. The record was previously held by Grace Leyland from Herne Hill Harriers, who set a time of 01:17:53 last year.

Wilson said: “I probably set out a bit fast, but I felt really comfortable. I always love coming back here as I feel so at home and the crowds are always amazing. Miles 6-10 felt a little bit lonely, but it was a hard training run, and I was very familiar with the roads and it was just great to be back home.”

Wilson, who is getting ready for the European Championships in Birmingham in the summer for Great Britain, said the ABP Newport Half Marathon was part of her first week of the marathon training block build.

She added: “Today was a training run on the back of a 100-mile week, so I’m really happy with this half marathon and the build, I’ve got 17 weeks to go and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Owain Terrell took the crown in the wheelchair race breaking the 60 minute mark and setting himself a new PB with a time of 59:08.

10K

The 10K race saw Swansea Harrier runner, Dafydd Jones, claim the title in 29:24.

Jones said: “It’s been a great day out. The weather was brilliant and the support on the course was great as well. I’m in University in Cardiff so it was nice to come out in Newport today as it’s only down the road.

“It’s the first race I’ve done individually in a while, as I’ve been doing a couple of the road relays in the last couple of weeks with the Swansea Harriers lot, so it was nice to come out here today and do a hard road race before I roll into my track season. It’s been a great event and I’m super happy to take the win today.”

In the women’s race it was Builth & District’s Donna Morris, who took the top spot with a time of 35:43.

Morris said: “It was nearly perfect conditions out there, it was pretty hot up until the 5K but I took some water on and then threw it on my head and then the second half was a bit cooler. It was a fantastic race and I’m completely over the moon to win as I thought on paper I would have come about fourth, so I’m really pleased with that.”

Results:

Men’s Marathon