News

22/07/2025 00:00, In Blog /

The Welsh Schools team travelled to Derby for this year’s edition of the Schools’ International Athletic Board’s U17 Track & Field International on Saturday, July 19.

On a wet day that made conditions difficult throughout in the East Midlands, it saw the top athletes from the home countries - Welsh Schools, Irish Schools, Scottish Schools and hosts English Schools - compete at Moorways Stadium Sports Village.

A team of 60 athletes were selected to represent the Welsh Schools Athletics Association in this traditional showpiece competition and the pinnacle to the school summer term across the country. The SIAB fixture was the third event of the month for the Association, following a busy period of Schools & Colleges National Championships in Aberdare and Brecon in the past fortnight.

12 months on from home advantage at Carmarthen Athletics Track, the International moved 200-miles away, returning to the same facility when it was last staged in England four years ago.

The experienced Darcy Coslett (Bryngwyn Comprehensive) and Toby Lemon (Hawarden High) accepted the invitation to take on the roles of male and female team captains.

Pupils were supported throughout the weekend by an experienced management team of twelve, including delegates and specific coaches across all track and field disciplines - sprints, endurance, jumps and throws.

The majority of athletes chosen were from the Middle age grouping (under 17s) with a few outstanding U15 juniors also selected. The team included a mix of recent Welsh age group champions, record holders and Welsh Athletics club members along with unattached school athletes who were gaining experience at this level of competition for the first time.

Following the journey by coach from South, Mid and North Wales, the team arrived at their accommodation on Friday evening ahead of the International which began with the girls’ hammer, pole vault and triple jump early on Saturday morning and concluded six hours later.

38 individual events were completed, with eight medals won in the 100m, 1500m, 1500m Steeplechase, long jump, pole vault and hammer.

The day ended on a high, with podium places in the boys’ 4 x 100m, girls’ 4 x 300m and boys’ 4 x 400m relay teams to finish with a tally of eleven medals.

Awarded on the day were the Charlie & Mona Hughes Awards which go to the most meritorious performances at the event (male and female). Congratulations to Gethin Brown and Olivia Schrimshaw, this year’s recipients following success in the hammer and long jump respectively.

Welsh Schools’ Results by event listed below:

Boys 100m: Jeremy Young (Olchfa Comprehensive) - 11:18, Kaleem Islam (Stanwell School) – 11.20

Girls 100m: Aliyah Afolabi (St Illtyds) – 11.84 BRONZE, Ava-Lexi Placide (St Illtyds) – 12.59

Boys 200m: Joshua Thomas Ysgol Bro Edern) – 22.62, Oliver Shearer (Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive) – 22.74

Girls 200m: Mia Johnson – 25.37 (Ysgol Brynhyfryd), Mercedes Anderson (The Cathedral School) – 26.66

Boys 400m: Alex Stamp (Radyr Comprehensive) – 52.75, Eifion Surian-Holder – 53.48 (Ysgol Calon Cymru)

Girls 300m: Darcy Coslett (Bryngwyn Comprehensive) – 38.54 SILVER, Evan-Rae Hanniford Corpus Christi) – 41.70

Boys 800m: Dylan Evans (St Joseph's RC High) – 1:56.22, Lucas Salvage (St Julian's School) – 1:57.11

Girls 800m: Lois Codling (Chepstow School) – 2:09.73, Olivia Morgan (The Cathedral School) – 2:19.46

Boys 1500m: Taylor Greig (Bryntirion Comprehensive) – 4:08.64, Tom Garrod (Rougemont School) – 4:15.46

Girls 1500m: Holly Humphreys (Ysgol Gyfyn Gwyr) – 4:30.51 BRONZE, Bryony Boyce (The Cathedral School) – 4:32.29

Boys 1500m Steeplechase: Will Chalk (Monmouth Comprehensive) – 4:33.57, Ruben Crierie (Denbigh High) – 5:09.56

Girls 1500m Steeplechase: Millie Pierce (Olchfa Comprehensive) – 5:05.64 BRONZE, Sali Owen (Ysgol Penweddig) – 5:25.63

Boys 3000m: Zac Campbell (Darland High School) – 9:20.07, Osian Davies (Ysgol Bro Dur) – 9:25.47

Girls 3000m: Rebeca Harries (Pencoedtre High) – 10:06.19, Heather Watson (Hawarden High) – 10:10.45

Girls 3000m Walk: Megan Chantrell (Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic) – 19:54.12, Florence Davies Llanishan High) – 20:46.25

Boys 100m Hurdles: Aidan Angilletta (Connah's Quay High) – 13.71, Macsen Martins Hughes (Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf) – 14.52

Girls 80m Hurdles: Olivia Schrimshaw (Ysgol Brynhyfryd) – 11.34, Ava-Lexi Placide (St Illtyds) – 11.87

Boys 400m Hurdles: Toby Lemon (Hawarden High) – 55.51, Matthew Hines (Pontarddulais Comprehensive) – 58.06

Girls 300m Hurdles: Poppy Turton (Rougemont School) – 46.62, Layla Aitchison (Birchgrove Comprehensive) – 46.81

Boys 4 x 100m Relay: Ruairi Harris (Bishopston Comprehensive), Jeremy Young, Oliver Shearer, Kaleem Islam - BRONZE

Girls 4 x 100m Relay: Ava-Lexi Placide, Ailyah Afolabi, Darcy Coslett, Tiana Odugbesan (Blackwood Comprehensive)

Boys 4 x 400m Relay: Dylan Evans, Lucas Salvage, Toby Lemon, Eifion Surian-Holder - BRONZE

Girls 4 x 300m Relay: Darcy Coslett, Evan-Rae Hanniford, Lois Codling, Mia Johnson - BRONZE

Boys Long Jump: Kaleem Islam (Stanwell School) – 6.09, Aidan Angilletta (Connah's Quay High) – 5.70

Girls Long Jump: Olivia Schrimshaw (Ysgol Brynhyfryd) – 5.91 GOLD, Tiana Odugbesan (Blackwood Comprehensive) – 5.78 SILVER

Boys Triple Jump: Macsen Martins Hughes (Ysgol Gyfyn Glantaf) – 13.55, Cobie Phillips (Cowbridge Comprehensive) – 13.39

Girls Triple Jump: Elen Blackmore (Ysgol Gyfyn Glantaf) – 10.75, Naomi Parry (The Cathedral School) – 10.15

Boys High Jump: Tomos Singleton (Ysgol Gyfyn Glantaf) – 1.74, Ethan Hammond (Ysgol Greenhill) – 1.65

Girls High Jump: Isobel Dunkeld (Ysgol Bro Preseli) – 1.55, Mari Wilson (Ysgol Y Strade) – 1.50

Boys Pole Vault: Tyler Davies (Bishopston Comprehensive) – 3.05

Girls Pole Vault: Ellie Dunleavy (Ysgol Y Strade) – 3.10 SILVER, Lyra Roberts (St John Lloyd Catholic) – 2.90

Boys Shot: Dylan Hughes (Whitchurch High) – 11.62, Harri Smith (Ysgol Bro Hyddgen) – 11.01

Girls Shot: Grace Hawker (Islwyn High) – 12.62, Violet Snelgrove (Ysgol Gwyr) – 11.34

Boys Javelin: Joseph Wood (Ysgol Penglais) – 46.60, Aidan Angilletta (Connah's Quay High) – 45.20

Girls Javelin: Summer Evans (Queen Elizabeth High) – 38.28, Hollie Weaver (Ysgol Nantgwyn) – 32.14

Boys Discus: Deacon Evans (Llanishan High) – 40.46, Dylan Hughes (Whitchurch High) – 22.48

Girls Discus: Summer Evans (Queen Elizabeth High) – 29.67, Ava John (Ysgol Garth Olwg) – 25.91

Boys Hammer: Gethin Brown (Hawarden High) – 54.03 BRONZE, Deacon Evans (Llanishan High) – 42.37

Girls Hammer: Evie Cooper (Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera) – 55.81 BRONZE, Amelia Mitchell (Morriston Comprehensive) – 52.41

Full Results

Thank you from Welsh Schools AA and team leaders Zane Maynard (WSAA International Secretary/Morriston Comprehensive School) and Andrew Jenkins (WSAA Support Officer) go to:

• All Welsh Schools Athletics Association Support Staff, Officers and SIAB delegates who supported the team in Derby - Lisa Waddon (CM ACADEMY), John Messum (Menai AC), Dr Ffion Price (Ysgol Calon Cymru), Phil Warwicker (Cardiff Archers), Naomi Davies (Ysgol Cwm Rhymni), Lucy Griffiths (Milford Haven School), Thomas John (Pencoed School), Steve Jones (WSAA CHAIR), Dai Williams (WSAA) and Gareth Oldham (WSAA)
• Welsh Athletics for their assistance with the team administration and financial support towards this event
• English Schools for organising and for their excellent hospitality throughout the weekend
• Army of parents, family members and coaches who made the journey from Wales to Derby

The next SIAB competition will take place in Wales next March, as the cross country edition of the International heads to North Wales to the picturesque Faenol Estate in Bangor. For track and field school pupils, the SIAB Track and Field International will be hosted in July 2026 by the Irish Schools Association.