Cwmbran’s Natasha Cockram will be aiming to impress in the Welsh capital this Sunday when she takes on the Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 28-year-old, who is now based in Norfolk, is the Welsh marathon record holder. Having recently moved to Norfolk, she can’t wait to be back competing on home soil.

“I can’t wait to be back in Wales. I last ran the Cardiff Half in 2017 and the atmosphere was amazing. The route takes you past all the great things we all love about Cardiff.”

This weekend is all part of Cockram’s training for the Commonwealth Games in Birmginham this summer where she hopes to be selected by Team Wales. Her half-marathon best is 72min 46sec.

“This is my first race of 2022 and it’s a big part of my training towards the Commonwealths in Birmingham. If I’m selected, it will be my first Commonwealth Games – I just missed out on the Coast in 2018 as I’d only just started running the marathon event and I wasn’t quite there performance-wise. I’ve just switched coach too so it’s going to be really important in terms of how I benchmark where I’m at. Basically, everything this year is geared towards the Commonwealth Games.

The former pupil from Croesyceiliog School went on to study at Tulsa University in Oklahoma. But a knee injury forced her to stop running altogether.

“I took a six-week job at a stables and ended up staying there for 12 months. I’d ride for anyone and everyone, competing in dressage, showjumping and evening in regional events.

“The riding actually helped my recovery. I’ve stopped now to focus on the running but I do really miss it. But the dream is to compete for Wales at a Commonwealth Games. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do ever since I started running at the age of 11.”

Visit the Welsh Athletics site to find out more about the athletes hoping to compete in Birmingham.