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2023 SIAB Cross Country International Preview
23/03/2023 00:00, In Blog / Cross Country / School News /
The 2023 SIAB Cross Country International will take place this Saturday at Sefton Park in Liverpool. 40 athletes have been selected to represent Welsh Schools at the International.
Beca Bown (Ysgol Gymraeg Bodedern / Eryri) and Iwan Thomas (Ysgol Glan y Mor / Dyfed) have been named as Team Captains for the event. Bown recently picked up the Welsh U17 Women’s Cross Country title. Whilst Thomas finished 3rd overall in the British Athletics Cross Challenge Series in the U17 category, earlier this month for the second successive season in a row.
Junior Girls
In the Junior Girls race athletes include Junior Girls Welsh Schools and Welsh Cross Country Champion Bryony Boyce (The Cathedral School / Cardiff and the Vale) and Welsh Indoors U15 Girls Champion and record holder over 1500m Libby Hale (Bishopston Comprehensive School / Afan Tawe Nedd).
Junior Boys
Garyn Tough (Aberdare Community School / Glamorgan Valleys) the current Welsh Schools Junior Cross Country Champion and bronze medallist at the Welsh Cross Country Championships will be in action. Also competing in the same age category is Finlay Burns (Cardiff High School / Cardiff and the Vale) the U13 Welsh Cross Country Champion.
Junior Mixed Relay
At last years meeting the Junior Mixed Relay team finished in the medal positions in third place. Rebecca Harries (Pencoedtre High / Cardiff and the Vale) and Amelia Williams (Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi / Dyfed) will be in action, both athletes finished within the top 10 at the Welsh Schools Cross Country Championships in February. Completing the line up are Dylan Evans (St.Josephs RC High School / South East Wales) and Tom Gilbert (St Martins Comp / Glamorgan Valleys), both athletes also competed well at the Welsh Schools Cross Country Championships.
Inter Girls
A number of athletes in the Inter Girls race will be making another SIAB international appearance. Welsh U15 Girls Welsh Cross Country Champion Mille Gold (St Illtyds CHS / Cardiff and the Vale) will be returning, Gold finished 8th in the Junior Girls race last year. Also returning is Team Captain Beca Bown (Ysgol Gymraeg Bodedern / Eryri), Bown finished within the top 10 last time around, finishing in 7th position in the Inter-Girls race.
Inter Boys
Competing in the Inter Boys race is Team Captain Iwan Thomas (Ysgol Glan y Mor / Dyfed), Thomas finished second in the U17 men’s race at the Welsh Cross Country Championships in February. Also competing in the Inter-Boys race is Finley Bruce (Ysgol Bro Preseli / Dyfed), Bruce finished in silver position at the Welsh Schools Cross Country Championships earlier this year.
Inter Mixed Relay
The Inter Mixed relay finished 4th at last years International, this years line up includes, Cara Scott (Ysgol Botwnnog / Eryri) who finished 6th at the Welsh Schools Cross Country Championships earlier this year and Ava Davies (Olchfa School / Afan Nedd Tawe) who also finished within the top 10 at the Schools Championships. Ben Sergeant (David Hughes / Eryri) and Jake Lynock (Bro Dinefwr / Dyfed) complete the relay team.
Team Managers
| Name | School |
| Ffion Price | Ysgol Calon Cymru |
| Alaw Beynon-Thomas | Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed |
| Naomi Davies | Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni |
| John Messum | Menai Track & Field |
| Andy Bowyer | Mold Alan School |
| Zane Maynard - Team Leader | Morriston Comprehensive |
| Steve Mitchell | Welsh Athletics |
SIAB Delegates
| Name | WSAA | District |
| Jo Warner | Chair | Glamorgan Valleys |
| Steve Jones | Vice Chair | Afan Nedd Tawe |
| Dai Williams | Treasurer | Cardiff and the Vale |