Welsh Schools name team for Aviva SIAB Schools’ U17 International Track & Field
Details of the teams selected to represent the Welsh Schools’ Athletic Association at this year’s Aviva SIAB (Schools’ International Athletic Board) u17 international, to be held at the Julie Rose Stadium, Asford in Kent, on Saturday, July 21st, have been released.
“We have selected our strongest team, said Mrs Kath Elias, the Welsh Schools’ Chairman, “with experienced year 11 throwers Awen Rosser (Strade, Dyfed) and Jac Palmer (Cwm Rhymni, Glamorgan Valleys) as the captains.
“It is a mixture of old heads and pupils making their debut, and it is drawn from schools and colleges across the Principality, with all eight districts represented.”
“Awen has previous experience as captain and won the discus at the School Games 2012 at the Olympic Stadium on May 9th while Jac emulated his father, Adrian, by being presented with the Guto Nyth Bran Cup for the best performance by a boy in a field event at last Saturday’s Aviva Welsh Schools National championships. He broke the middle boys’ hammer record with a throw of 59.69 metres, and will be hoping to crack the 60 metres barrier before the end of the season. Adrian received the award in1985 and 1987.”
“Last year, when we hosted the event at Cardiff, we had two individual winners – Adele Nicoll (Welshpool, Powys) in the shot and team captain Matthew Field (Hawthorn, Glamorgan Valleys) in the discus – and our girls’ sprint relay team also claimed gold.”
“This summer, the School Games were held in May rather than in the more usual slot at the end of August. We are delighted that thirty-three of the athletes from that team are included in our sixty-two strong team for Ashford. At the Olympic Stadium, Adele, Awen and Matthew Williams (Maelor, North East Wales, discus) were winners, and it will be intriguing to see how they fare in the different SIAB international at a later stage in the summer.”
“We wish ‘Good Fortune’ to all of our athletes on July 21st and we very much hope that they will enjoy the experience but look to use it as a stepping stone to even better performances at under 20 and senior level in the years to come.”
Footnote
Our emerging endurance athletes should note that the next SIAB Schools’ cross-country international - for the under 15 (years 8 & 9) and under 17 (years 10 & 11) age groups - will be hosted by Welsh Schools at Dinefwr Park, Llandeilo, on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013. There will also be races for our under 20 (sixth form) athletes.