Reigning Commonwealth champion Dai Greene and double World champion Aled Davies have today (Friday 6th June) been named by Team Wales as part of a 33-strong athletics team (27 able-bodied, six para-athletes) to compete at this summer’s Games in Glasgow.
Greene and Davies are joined by an exciting mix of experienced athletes and many who will be competing at their first games, including 16-year-old sprinter Hannah Brier.
The Swansea Harrier has been selected as part of Wales’ 4x100m relay squad which includes five Commonwealth Games debutants; Hannah Brier, Rachel Johncock, Mica Moore, Hannah Thomas and Lucy Evans.
The quartet of Brier, Thomas, Moore and Johncock set a new Welsh women’s 4x100m record of 45.17 seconds at the recent Loughborough International.
Commonwealth Games athletics team; Adam Bitchell (10,000m), Olivia Breen (long jump – F38), Hannah Brier (4x100m relay), Aled Sion-Davies (discus – F42), Andrew Davies (marathon), Lee Doran (javelin), Jonathan Edwards (Hammer), Lucy Evans (4x100m relay), Chris Gowell (1500m), Dai Green (400m hurdles), Ben Gregory (decathlon), Dewi Griffiths (10,000m), David Guest (decathlon), Tracey Hinton (100m – T12), Steffan Hughes (100m – T12 guide), Rachel Johncock (4x100m relay), Beverley Jones (long jump – F37), Osian Jones (hammer), Rhys Jones ** (100m T37), Elinor Kirk (5,000m and 10,000m), Curtis Matthews (decathlon), Mica Moore (4x100m relay), Brett Morse (discus), Carys Parry (hammer), Sally Peake (pole vault), Matthew Richards (hammer), Ryan Spencer-Jones (shot put), Joe Thomas** (800m), Hannah Thomas (4x100m relay), Paul Walker (pole vault), Gareth Warburton (800m), Rhys Williams (400m hurdles), Gareth Winter (shot put).
**subject to fitness
Scott Simpson, National Performance Coach, Welsh Athletics, said: "I have been stunned by the response of the Welsh athletes to the impending Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – their performance levels over recent weeks have sky-rocketed. "We have selected one of the largest ever athletics contingents; something that truly reflects the strength and depth of the sport in Wales at this point in time. My congratulations go out to all those athletes, and their coaches, who have worked so hard over the last four years to achieve this selection."
Jon Morgan, Executive Director, Disability Sport Wales said: "This is a particularly talented squad of athletes who will be representing Team Wales. We very much hope they will be able to bring their experience of Paralympic, World & European Championships to the fore when competing in Glasgow.
"We’re equally delighted to have worked in partnership with Welsh Athletics and Team Wales to ensure that together we can deliver an inclusive environment for all athletes within the team."
Chris Jenkins, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales, the organisation responsible for selecting and sending a team to compete for Wales, said:
"Athletics is always one of the sports that draws the crowds at the Commonwealth Games and we’re delighted to have been able to select a really strong team. There is a great mixture of experienced athletes and debutants in the team which always makes things exciting to watch. I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the athletes that have are now part of Team Wales and wish you the best of luck with your final preparations for the Games."
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Notes for editors:
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· The Commonwealth Games is the only multi-sport event where Wales competes in its own right.
· Swimmer Valerie Davies, from Cardiff, who struck two silvers in the 1930 Games in Hamilton, Canada, won Wales’ first Commonwealth medals.
· Weightlifter David Morgan is Wales’ most successful Games’ athlete, his haul of nine gold and six silver medals collected over six tournaments.
- Cardiff hosted the Games in 1958, when it was called the Empire Games.
· Wales recorded its highest position in the medals table (11th) at the Manchester Games of 2002, winning six gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze.
· Wales Commonwealth Games stars of yesteryear include Lynn Davies, Nicole Cooke, Colin Jackson, Iwan Thomas, David Davies, Berwyn Price, Jamie Baulch, David Roberts, Kelly Morgan and Tanni Grey Thompson.
Issued by: Commonwealth Games Council for Wales
Contact: Sarah Mogford on 029 2033 8273 or Tim Lewis 07971619166
Email: sarah.mogford@teamwales.co.uk or tim.lewis@welshathletics.org
