Trio Selected for Samoa
Three top young weightlifting talents have been selected to represent Team Wales at the Commonwealth Youth Games in September.
Catrin Jones, Ellie Pryor and Jordon Sakkas have lifted the qualifying totals and had their team nominations confirmed by the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales.
It is another boost for the three teenagers who have all recently been added to the Welsh and British talent programmes.
The Commonwealth Youth Games will take place in Samoa between 5th-11th September 2015. Weightlifting is included in the event every other cycle.
Performance Director Simon Roach said;
“To have three lifters from our sport selected for the games is a real coup.
“They are all excellent competitors and have a desire to improve and learn, and this is another great opportunity for them.
“We have some excellent young athletes coming through our new system and this is a sign of the progress we are making with a view to future Commonwealth Games.”
Chris Jenkins, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales, said;
“These three young weightlifters have become the first athletes to be selected for the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games, and we’re delighted to have them on board.
“The Commonwealth Youth Games is such an important event in our calendar and provides a fantastic opportunity for young, up and coming athletes to gain valuable experience of a multi-sport competition. Commonwealth gold medal-winning swimmers Jazz Carlin and Georgia Davies are just two examples of Welsh athletes that have previously competed at a Youth Games and gone on to reach the top of their sport at the senior event and I’m looking forward to seeing what our weightlifters can achieve in Samoa and beyond.”
Catrin Jones – 48kg category
Aged 15, from Bangor
In the last year Catrin has progressed from 81kg total to 115kg total. She holds Welsh and British records at various age groups and is Welsh and British Champion. She is the only Talent best online casino Cymru funded athlete at U17?s level and is also a member of the Welsh Squad.
Catrin will also be aiming to compete in the European event later in the year.
Ellie Pryor – 53kg category
Aged 13, from Aberdare
From January 2014 to January 2015, Ellie has made excellent progress in improving her total from 92kg to 110kg.
She is Welsh and British Champion and a member of the Welsh Talent Squad. She has broken various Welsh and British records throughout the age groups and has competed in two Internationals for Wales.
Jordan Sakkas – 94kg category
Aged 15
In under a year Jordan has progressed at a rapid rate – moving from a 193kg total to a 240kg total. He is currently the Welsh and British Champion and holds national records in both.
He is a member of the Welsh Talent Squad and has competed at international competitions for Wales.
Jordan”s next competition will be the British Youth Championships when he will hope to qualify for the Youth European Championships.