The latest from this week's parkruns (W39)

The latest Newtown parkrun saw 194 participants take to the course on a fresh Saturday morning at 9am.

The event featured an inspiring mix of seasoned runners, new participants, and personal achievements, making this week's run a standout.

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Leading the pack this week was Jonathan Turner, who completed his 98th parkrun in an impressive time of 18:42, setting a new personal best. This is a significant milestone for Jonathan, who also holds membership in both the 50 and Volunteer 10 clubs. His performance, combined with a 72.19% age grade, shows his dedication to continual improvement.

In second place was Kyle Evison, a young athlete in the SM20-24 category, completing his 39th parkrun in 19:05. While just shy of his personal best of 18:51, Kyle demonstrated solid consistency in his running pace.

The first female finisher, Hannah Thomas, crossed the line in third overall, achieving a new personal best of 19:27. Representing the VW40-44 age group with an outstanding 78.66% age grade, Hannah, a member of the Maldwyn Harriers, continues to push her limits with every run.

Fifth place saw Mathew Pugh, a first-time runner at Newtown, complete his race in 20:05. His entry into the event highlights how Newtown parkrun continues to attract both regulars and newcomers alike. It’s always exciting to see fresh faces joining the vibrant community.

Other notable performances include Jake Bennett in 7th place, who, like Jonathan and Hannah, achieved a new personal best of 20:14. Similarly, Melissa Turnbull, finishing 8th overall and 2nd female, set her own personal best with a time of 20:26. Also representing Maldwyn Harriers, Melissa is proving to be a strong competitor in the VW40-44 category with a 75.29% age grade.

The day also saw several other notable achievements, including Howard Gudgeon in 15th place, who completed his 52nd parkrun in 21:09 with an impressive 73.29% age grade in the VM55-59 category. Jamie Mayers, another veteran parkrunner, crossed the line just ahead of him in 21:28, also earning a new personal best.

First-time runners made their mark too, with Adam Johnson finishing in 21:29 and Jacob Jones in 21:33, both making strong debuts in the SM20-24 and VM35-39 categories, respectively. It’s always exciting to witness new participants embracing the event, contributing to the spirit of community that parkrun fosters.

The consistent turnout and performance improvements by regular runners like Andrew Davies and Kevin Edwards highlight the importance of parkrun for personal fitness goals, as both continue to maintain competitive times with numerous runs under their belts.

For full results and more information on how to get involved in the weekly event, click here.

Whether you're aiming to set a new personal best or just enjoy a morning of community fitness, all are welcome to walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate next week.