Team Wales Athletics Announcement
Team Wales Announce the Athletics Team for Trinbago 2023
Today, Team Wales announce the athletes selected as part of the Athletics team for the Commonwealth Youth Games, which takes place in the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago from 4-11 August this summer.
Athletics will have 11 competitors amongst the team of 40 athletes and 20 support staff who will compete across four sports; Athletics, Swimming, Women Rugby 7s and Cycling.
Amongst the 11 athletes will be 4 para athletes, with Para Athletics included in the sports programme for the first time in Commonwealth Youth history.
Trinbago Welsh Athletics Team Leader Rhys Williams said ‘It is a great honour to be Team Lead for the Welsh Athletics team taking part in the Commonwealth Youth Games. As staff, we will be making sure our athletes arrive at the Games with the best possible preparation, in order to achieve success.
The Commonwealth Youth Games is a key event on the Welsh Athletics Talent Pathway, where they will gain valuable experience towards future major senior Championship events.
As a former athlete myself, some of my most enjoyable experiences have come from competing at Major Championships and I have no doubt, that our athletes will have a fantastic experience competing at the highest level for their country.
The Games will see more than 1,000 athletes and para-athletes between the ages of 14-18 across the 72 nations and territories around the Commonwealth compete across 7 sports this summer;
Aquatics (Swimming), Athletics and Para Athletics, Cycling (Road Race, Time Trial and Track) and Triathlon, as well as FAST5 Netball, Rugby Sevens and Beach Volleyball.
Welsh Athletics Head of Performance Chris Type added ‘Team Wales has selected a strong cohort of young athletes to compete at the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Youth Games. This is a testament to the talented athletes and hard-working coaches who have qualified against very high qualification standards. This is a great development opportunity for the athletes which will set them on a path of future success.’
Since its launch in 2000, the Youth Games has continued to grow to provide a unique opportunity to experience elite sport on the international stage, promote cultural understanding and create lifelong friendships across the Commonwealth.
At the last Youth Games in Bahamas 2017, Team Wales brought home 13 medals across six sports, with shot putter Sarah Omoregie winning silver and setting a new British U18 record of 16.74m, whilst James Tomlinson also won silver in the discus.
Commonwealth Games Wales President, Helen Phillips MBE added ‘ I would like to congratulate all 11 athletes for their selection. The Youth Games is an exceptional platform to compete on a big international stage and showcase the talent we have here in Wales. It is also an important move within the Youth Games to include para-sport in the competition programme. We are extremely proud to have four para-athletes included in the team. I wish them all the very best and I look forward to following the athletes as they embark on their Commonwealth journey this summer.’
Introducing Team Wales Athletics
Athletes:
Joseph Berry: Men’s 100m, Men’s 200m & 4x100m Relay Mixed
Lewis Stephens: Men’s 100m & 4x100m Relay Mixed
Zico Jones: Men’s 400m
Joseph Rees: Gara Men’s 1500m
Sophie Lisk: Women’s 100m Hurdles & 4x100m Relay Mixed
Storm Evans: Women’s Discus
Jessica Lee: Women’s Long jump & 4x100m Relay Mixed
Para-athletics
Ashton Fish: Men’s 100m – T38
Mia Lloyd: Women’s Discus Throw – F42-44/F61-64
William Bishop: Men’s Long Jump – T38
Tomi Roberts-Jones: Men’s 100m – T38 and Men’s Long Jump – T38