The ABP Newport Marathon Festival takes place next Sunday (28 April) with an additional half marathon offering in 2024 and revised fast and flat routes across the entire race offering.

The 10K races look to be the most competitive and will kick-start both the R4W 10K Series and the 2024 Welsh 10K Series.

The men’s race should see a three-way battle that features a trio of R4W race regulars and previous race winners. Welshman Dewi Griffiths (28:27) will take on 2022 Cardiff Half Marathon Champion Kadar Omar and defending Champion here, Omar Ahmed (28:45).

This will be a first competitive outing for Griffiths since an impressive 2:12:49 clocking at the Seville Marathon in February but also follows a first sub 29-minute clocking for 5 years in December, with a 28:40 posting at the Trafford 10K.

Paul Graham (29:38) and Jon Butler (29:52) will also be in action in the 10K race.

Great Britain & Northern Ireland International’s Hannah Irwin (32:25) and Holly Archer (33:27) will face-off in the women’s race. Irwin was third at the Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay 10K last Spring and Archer was the silver medallist over 1500m at the European Indoor Championships in 2021. The pair last faced each other at the Mile race in the Cardiff Cross Challenge where Irwin was a convincing winner with Archer finishing fourth.

2023 Cardiff 10K Champion Alaw Evans (34:48) is next fastest.

The Half Marathon is a new venture for 2024 and is headlined on the men’s side by Ronnie Richmond (65:35) and Alex Carter (66:21).

Lauren Cooper (78:34) is fastest for the women’s equivalent distance, followed by last year’s Marathon Champion, Newport based Liz Dimond (79:56).

The Marathon races will host the Welsh Marathon Championships for the Masters age-groups.

Marathon course record holder Dan Osborn-Nash (2:15.19) returns to defend his title and is unlikely to be troubled on Sunday. This will be his first race since a move to Pontypridd Roadents with his last race coming with victory at the Great Welsh Marathon in March.

Surrey Cross Country Champion and former Asics Greater Manchester Marathon Champion Georgie Bruinvels (2:37:03) will be an equally comfortable favourite in the women’s race.