14 May 2008
Llanelli’s Caryl Granville is aiming to finish in the top two in the Welsh Senior Athletics Championships next month in Swansea even though she’s been out of action for the last four weeks with an achilles strain and sitting her A-level exams.
Tipped as a star for the future, the 18-year-old is hoping to be back in training next week and - as well as the Welsh Championships - is also looking for a good performance in the English Championships that incorporate the World Junior Trials from 21-22 June in Bedford to be considered for selection in the World Junior Championships in Poland in July.
The Carmarthen Harrier took bronze in the Welsh Senior Championships last year in the 400m hurdles and will look to go one step further this year.
She explains, “I feel a lot stronger and faster than last year and have been working on my core strength a lot recently. Although I’ve had a four-week break with the injury, it might be a good thing because I had a tough winter training and a good indoor season.
“My aim now is to finish in the top two in the Senior Championships, get some good times under my belt and make it to the World Junior Championships.”
Matt Newman from Welsh Athletics explained: “The Welsh Championships is the stepping stone for our talented, young athletes to become successful seniors. Athletics in Wales has a long and illustrious history but the future is looking equally bright with emerging talents across a number of disciplines, particularly athletes on the Welsh Talent Development Academy.”
The Welsh Senior Athletics Championships is to be held at the University of Swansea Athletics Track on Sunday 15 June from 11.30 - 17.30. The cost of entry is £5 and a programme is included in the price.
The World Junior Championships will be held in Bydgoszcz, Poland from the 8-13 July.
Multi-talented Caryl Granville is a former Welsh international in gymnastics and cross country. The Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade pupil credits her parents as having the greatest impact on her career. Indeed, as a former cross country international, her mother certainly has expertise to assist her daughter to the top of her sport.
Career highlights to date include representing Great Britain, smashing the 300m hurdles Welsh record and being named Welsh Schools Track Athlete of the Year in 2006 and 2007. Now her ambitions are to compete at the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
For more information, please contact Jane Williams at Welsh Athletics on 029 2033 8274
