By Owen Morgan

Welsh Athletics has announced funding for 38 athletes it hopes will help spearhead Wales’ challenge for medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

In partnership with Sport Wales, the athletes have been invited onto Welsh Athletics’ Commonwealth Games Programme for the 2018-19 athletics season, based on their potential to climb onto the podium at the Birmingham games.

Among those included are race-walker Bethan Davies, who won bronze at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April and 400m runner Joe Brier, who helped GB to a 400m bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in the summer.

Announcing the programme, Welsh Athletics national coach Chris Jones said: “Our focus going forward is on Birmingham 2022, on supporting the great range of talented athletes we have to not just push for selection, but be in the best possible place to make finals and challenge for medals at the games.

“We’ve set out a clear set of criteria for athletes and their coaches regarding the support they can receive from us, not just financially, but from access to really high-quality services from our staff and colleagues in Sport Wales. We’re looking to develop consistent, robust athletes who can deliver in a Championship environment.

“I’m delighted to be able to invite so many athletes and their coaches on to what we see as a well-structured and ambitious programme, and really excited to be at the start of a new Games cycle with the prospect of working with this group of individuals in the lead up to Birmingham 2022.”

One of those who will benefit from the funding is sprinter Sam Gordon, who away from the track works as a part-time activity co-ordinator with schools in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The Cardiff AAC athlete, who is currently the fastest man in Wales, said: “I had a reasonable year last year despite a small injury, and it’s nice that Welsh Athletics are putting their faith in me long term. Having the extra funding and support will mean I can train more and more like a full time athlete, which is what I need to do to compete.

“Sprinting in Great Britain is so strong right now, but I believe I can be there with those guys at that level. Making it to that 100m final in Birmingham, wearing the red vest of Wales would be fantastic, that’s the goal.”

The Welsh Athletics Commonwealth Games Programme provides three levels of support for athletes and their coaches – Commonwealth Podium, Commonwealth Potential for senior athletes, and Commonwealth Talent Development for junior athletes.

All those supported at the Talent Development level, will be nominated for funding from Sports Aid.

The backing athletes will receive includes access to medical facilities, sports science support, access to strength and conditioning coaching, warm weather training grants, international competition support and an athlete support grant.

Brian Davies, Director of Elite Performance at Sport Wales, said: “It’s been another successful 12 months for Welsh athletes and it’s great to see such a strong cohort named on the new performance programmes of Welsh Athletics.

“Those at the top of their tree have been rightly recognised and rewarded after a string of fine results but it has also been a year of breakthroughs for many up-and-coming athletes as they continue to develop and strive towards fulfilling their potential.

“Sport Wales is delighted to be able to support Welsh Athletics in also providing sufficient support for this group of future stars. This is an exciting period for Welsh Athletics given the depth of strength throughout the programme which sets us on the path towards the Birmingham 2022 and championships beyond.”

In addition, the category of Associate Athlete has been introduced to support experienced individual athletes with ambitions of qualifying to compete at major championships in the next two years.

There are also a number of athletes who Welsh Athletics will be supporting over the coming months to exit the programme.

Mr Jones added: “We would like to recognise all their efforts and achievements in the red vest of Wales over recent years, and we’ll be encouraging them to stay involved in the sport where possible.”

Full list of Commonwealth Games Programme supported athletes is:

Associate athletes:

Ben Gregory, Brett Morse, Caryl Jones, Dai Greene, Seren Bundy-Davies.

Commonwealth Games Podium:
Bethan Davies, Charlotte Arter, David Omoregie, Ieuan Thomas, Osian Jones.

Commonwealth Games Potential:
Adele Nicoll, Curtis Matthews, Heather Lewis, Jac Palmer, Jenny Nesbitt, Jonathan Hopkins, Josh Griffiths, Natasha Cockram, Owen Smith, Rebecca Chapman, Sam Gordon, Stevie Stockton.

Talent Development:

Ben Thomas, Bethan Rees, Bethany Moule, Cari Hughes, Hannah Brier, Jay Morse, Jeremiah Azu (status to be confirmed), Joe Brier, Kiara Frizelle, Kristian Jones, Lauren Evans, Lauren Williams, Naomi Reid, Oliver Barbaressi, Osaze Aghedo, Sarah Omoregie, Tom Hewson.

The news comes on the same day that rising middle distance star Jake Heyward and promising Pembrokshire discus thrower James Tomlinson – have been named on the British Athletics Olympic Futures Programme.

Meanwhile, Dewi Griffiths and Melissa Courtney were last week included on the British Athletics’ World Class Programme Olympic Podium section.