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2023 Welsh Schools National Track & Field Championships Round-Up
01/07/2023 00:00, In Blog / Track & Field / School News /
Today saw the 74th edition of the Welsh Schools Athletics Association Track & Field Championships took place at the Cardiff International Sports Campus, with over 500 pupils competing in a range of events, many for the first time.
The day started with the U20 men’s 400m hurdles; Joseph Beresford (Afan Nedd Tawe) took the first win with a personal best time of 58.80s. The U17 men’s 400m hurdles was won by Osian Parry, (Cardiff & the Vale) after his time of 55.70s, whilst in the U20 women’s 400m hurdles, Phillipa Allen (Cardiff & the Vale) took gold after finishing in 1:10:13.
Matilda Quick (Afan Nedd Tawe) managed to retain her U17 high jump title at this year’s championship. It was a tight affair between Quick and Megan Taylor (Cardiff & the Vale) who both jumped a best of 1.65m. Matilda also managed to take the win in the U17 Shot, throwing 11.56m.
After recently breaking the U15 1500m Welsh record last week at the Welsh Senior and U15 Championships, Libby Hale (Afan Nedd Tawe) returned, winning the U15 girls 1500m in a time of 4:37:93, as well as coming second in the U15 girls 300m; Darcy Coslett (Dyfed) took the victory, finishing in 41.54s.
Another Welsh record holder, Olivia Scrimshaw (North East Wales) was also in action today, winning the U15 girls long jump with a distance of 5.73m ahead of Beatrice Morgan who jumped 5.20m, as well as also winning the U15 girls triple jump with ease, jumping 11.69m
Ben Parker (Glamorgan Valley) jumped 7.11m, a new Championship Best in the U17 men’s long jump, setting a new personal best by 10cm as well as taking the gold medal, with Luca Phillips (Cardiff & the Vale) coming in second place, with a distance of 7.01m. A good day for Luca; a silver in long jump as well as an impressive gold in the U17 men’s triple jump, managing a distance of 14.02m.
Evie Cooper (Afan Nedd Tawe Schools) also managed two victories in this years championship after last weekend’s Welsh title win in the U15 hammer with a distance of 50.81m. This week, Evie comfortably won the U15 hammer with a distance of 48.94m, in addition to her securing victory in the U15 Shot, throwing 10.71m.
It was a great day for soon to be Welsh captain Joseph Berry who secured the victory in the U17 men’s 200m, running 22.23s, whilst he also ran a time of 11.07s in the U17 men’s 100m to take gold, closely followed by Lewis Stephens (Glamorgan Valley) at 11.11s. A great day for the athletes who were recently selected to represent Wales at the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Youth Games.
Cardiff & the Vale Schools District took victory in five out of the six age categories and whilts Afan Nedd Tawe were victorious in the U20 men’s category.