Wrexham athletes promoted following strong Blackburn showing 2026

Key Points

• The Wrexham athletes earned promotion to the Northern Senior League West Two competition, held in Blackburn, where they took second place overall with 359 points behind Wigan.
• Among the sprinters, the leading performers were Sophie Davies who won the women’s 100m race in 12.9 seconds and Sion Odia who won both men’s 100m and 200m races.
• Middle distance victories belonged to Caroline Rees (800m and 1500m) and Rhys Williams (400m). Field events winners were Ellie Collins in discus and Isabelle Collins in hammer.
• The relay teams brought gold for the men’s 4x100m team and silver for the women’s 4x100m and mixed 4x400m teams.
• Other personal bests and victories were achieved at the Aldershot AC open, Charnwood AC open, Mid Cheshire 5k, Cilcain Show mountain race, Deestriders summer handicap finale, Rhydycroesau fell race and Birchwood 10k.
• Chris Preston made his first appearance as a member of the Wales masters team in an international match against England at Deeside College, where he took 8th place in a PB of 10.29.

Wrexham (Wales Times) September 03, 2026 – uk/local/wrexham/">Wrexham athletes enjoyed a busy and successful end to August, highlighted by promotion in the Northern Senior League and a string of victories and personal bests across multiple competitions. Blackburn hosted the Northern Senior League West Two fixture, where Wrexham secured promotion, finishing second overall on 359 points, narrowly behind winners Wigan. As reported by Leader Live, the club’s strong showing across sprints, middle-distance, field events and relays underpinned the promotion push, with numerous athletes delivering standout performances on the day.

What happened at the Northern Senior League fixture in Blackburn?

Blackburn served as the venue for the decisive Northern Senior League West Two meeting that confirmed Wrexham’s promotion status. According to Leader Live’s coverage, Wrexham accumulated 359 points to finish second behind Wigan, a points tally built on breadth of contribution across the programme. The result caps a productive end-of-August period for the club, with athletes also competing successfully in open meetings, road races and fell events elsewhere.

Who were the standout sprinters for Wrexham in Blackburn?

Sprint events provided early momentum for Wrexham, with Sophie Davies and Sion Odia delivering headline results. As reported by Leader Live, Davies won her 100m race in 12.9 seconds and added a second-place finish in the 200m. Odia completed a sprint double with victories in the men’s 100m and 200m, while Daniel Fox-Williams won the 200m and finished first in the B 100m race. These results established a platform for Wrexham’s points haul and demonstrated depth in the sprint squads.

How did Wrexham’s middle-distance runners perform?

Middle-distance races saw Wrexham collect further victories and podium places. Leader Live reported that Caroline Rees won both the 800m and 1500m, showcasing endurance and tactical strength over two distances. Rhys Williams claimed victory in the 400m and added podium finishes in the 800m and 1500m, contributing heavily to the team total. The combination of Rees’s double and Williams’s multi-event scoring helped Wrexham maintain pressure on rivals throughout the meeting.

Which field athletes delivered wins and podiums?

Field events produced multiple wins and consistent scoring for Wrexham. Ellie Collins won the discus, while Isabelle Collins topped the hammer competition, according to Leader Live’s account of the day. Annabelle Jones produced three second-place finishes across the hammer, javelin and discus, adding valuable points across the throwing programme. Neil Edwards scored across seven disciplines, illustrating the club’s all-round capability, with relay performances completing an excellent day for the squad.

What were the relay results for Wrexham’s teams?

Relay races closed out the track programme with strong team displays. The men’s 4x100m quartet of Fox-Williams, Odia, Glyn Wise and Williams took first place, as reported by Leader Live. The women’s 4x100m and mixed 4x400m teams both finished as runners-up, adding further points to Wrexham’s promotion tally. These results highlighted squad depth and effective baton work across age groups and event specialisms.

What other results did Wrexham athletes achieve in August?

Beyond Blackburn, Wrexham athletes recorded victories and personal bests at several open meetings and road races. At the Aldershot AC open, Annabelle Jones claimed victory in the U18 women’s discus with 29.59m, while Spencer Jones won the U14 boys’ discus with a personal best of 27.47m before adding victory in the 2km walk in another personal best of 9-47.79, according to Leader Live. Ellis Jones won the U12 boys’ 1200m walk in a personal best of 6-36.68 and later won the shot put (6.36m) and discus (20.24m) at the Charnwood AC open.

On the roads, Daniel Weston led the Wrexham challenge at the Mid Cheshire 5k in Kingsley with a time of 16.15, followed by James Jones in 16.54 and Robert Miles in 18.19, Leader Live reported. Amanda Bailey clocked 21.06, while Anna Moccia and Karl Moore completed the course in 26.04 and 26.36 respectively. Deestrider Nige Parr ran 20.01, a personal best, and Paul Collins recorded 28.02, also a personal best.

In fell and mountain racing, Scott Nixon finished 11th in 35.04 at the Cilcain Show mountain race, with Sioned Cordiner placing 116th in 50.13, Leader Live noted. Christine Cammillare (47.05) and Fred Aird (53.44) completed the Rhydycroesau fell race of approximately five-and-a-half miles. Paul Lewtey led Deestriders at the Birchwood 10k with a personal best of 38.26, followed by Kieran Wyatt (44.42), David Temple (46.33) and Andy Wainwright (49.45).

In the Deestriders summer handicap finale, course records were set, with Paul Lewtey covering 2k in 6.46 and Alix Thomas in 7.57; the three-race series was won by Amanda Scotter.

Did any Wrexham athletes represent Wales in August?

International representation featured prominently in the month’s highlights. As reported by Leader Live, Chris Preston made his debut for Wales in the masters international against England at Deeside College. The 50-year-old finished eighth in an excellent personal best of 10.29, marking a significant milestone for the athlete and the club.

Background to Wrexham’s promotion development

Wrexham’s promotion in the Northern Senior League West Two follows a sustained period of competitive activity across track, field, road and fell disciplines. The club’s end-of-August schedule included league fixtures, open meetings and distance events, allowing athletes to accumulate points and personal bests in parallel. The 359-point total in Blackburn reflects contributions from sprinters, middle-distance runners, throwers and relay units, indicating a balanced squad capable of scoring across the programme.

Prediction: how this development can affect Wrexham athletes and the local community

The promotion is likely to raise the profile of Wrexham athletes within the Northern Senior League structure, potentially leading to stronger competition and higher performance benchmarks in the next season. For athletes, the step up may bring more high-pressure fixtures, which could accelerate development for emerging talents while testing the depth of the squad. Locally, the success may encourage greater participation in athletics, with schools and community groups using the promotion as a catalyst for engagement. Over time, continued visibility could support sponsorship opportunities and facility investment, benefiting training environments for current and future Wrexham athletes.