DEWI Griffiths' childhood dream of qualifying for an Olympic marathon place looked like it might become a reality as he pushed hard for a place in last week’s trials at Kew Gardens.

The Carmarthenshire runner was with the leading group and over a minute ahead of the target pace until the final 10km, but he missed out on a top three position.

His excellent finishing time of 2:13.42 saw the Swansea Harrier, from Llanfynydd, finish fourth, but still well inside the Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 2:15.30.

"The marathon can be a humbling experience, and unfortunately it wasn't my dream day," said Griffiths, a former Ysgol Tregib pupil.

"At 22 miles, my legs said no, and that was it for my hopes of making the Olympic team.

"Huge congratulations to those that made the team, and those that made the event possible in such difficult circumstances.

"I'll take some some down time, recharge, regroup and refocus, and I guess I'll target an autumn marathon somewhere.

"But taking the positives from the race, it's the first race in a couple of years that I've stood on the start line and felt fit, healthy, and believed I could run something fast again.

"Thanks to the people closest to me for being my rock, and for all the messages I've received.

"This whole experience has only added to the fire inside me to burn brighter and stronger."

Fellow Swansea Harrier Joshua Griffiths was the next finisher in fifth place, and his 2:15.08 was also inside the Commonwealth Games target time.

National M40 record holder and Stockport Harrier, Andrew Davies, from Montgomeryshire, was just outside with a solid 2:15.50.

Chris Thompson won the race to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2:10.50, some 40 seconds inside the qualifying time.

Ben Connor will also be in Tokyo after finishing second in 02:12:06, having set the qualifying standard in a previous race, and Mohamud Aadan took third in 02:12:20.

Scotland's Callum Hawkins, 28, had already secured a spot in the delayed Games this summer and was only on pace-making duties in London.

The Welsh ladies really impressed, with Natasha Cockram storming to a new national record.

The MMRT athlete clocked 2:30.03 to lower her own record from 2:30.49, and was agonisingly close to the 2:29.30 Olympic qualification mark.

Ladies' winner Stephanie Davis was the only woman to finish inside the qualifying time, winning in a personal best of 2:27:16.

Cockram finished second, and Rosie Edwards was third in 2:31:56 - Welsh runner Clara Evans was fifth in 02:32:42, also well inside the Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 2:35.30.

The marathon races were preceded by 20km race walks trials where there were three Welsh athletes in action, but unfortunately conditions weren’t as good for that discipline.

Heather Lewis of Pembrokeshire Harriers claimed a gun to tape victory in 1:35.44, with friend and rival Cardiff AC’s Bethan Davies second in 1:37.04.

Tonbridge AC’s Guy Thomas was third in the men’s event with a time of 1:30.19.