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04/12/2023 00:00, In Blog / Track & Field / School News /

The National Indoor Athletics Centre at Cyncoed Campus, Cardiff staged the annual Schools’ Indoor Combined Events International on Saturday.

With the Emirates Arena in Glasgow preparing for the World Athletics Indoor Championships, the 2023 edition moved south to the Welsh Capital and hosted by Cardiff Metropolitan University and Welsh Schools.

Both age groups - with four athletes per country taking part - competed in the pentathlon. 60m Hurdles, Shot Put, 200m / High Jump, Long Jump and 800m made up the day’s events over a six-hour programme.

Sixteen pupils were selected to represent the Welsh Schools Athletic Association in the under 16 and under 18 age groups following the Welsh Schools combined events championships a month ago. Half of the team were making their international debuts and experiencing this level of competition for the very first time.

They were up against the top runners, jumpers and throwers from the travelling English Schools, Irish Schools and Scottish Schools squads.

The team were supported at the international by team managers, Welsh Schools officers and four lead coaches. Welsh Schools’ mascot ‘Dewi the Dragon’ also made an appearance following its first outing in the summer.

After a Cardiff Met recruitment talk, team meeting and inspirational speeches by team captains Osian Parry and Nia Powell on the Friday evening, athletes made their way to NIAC early on competition day which began with the long jump and 60m hurdles at 10am.

Watched on by clubmates, friends and family, athletes made home advantage count as Welsh Schools produced one of its best overall performances to date.

Individually, there were two medallists in the under 16 girls and under 18 boys age groups respectively.

Olivia Schrimshaw secured best performances in the first two events of the morning and as a result won gold, finishing on 3,411 points after 5 events. Also breaking the U17 Welsh Indoor Long Jump record, becoming the second Welsh female to take gold in the event's history. By picking up a combined total of 3,593 points, second place and runner-up went to Luca Phillips. Which was a new club record for the Cardiff Archers athlete.

In the team competition, Welsh Schools were rewarded with three podium finishes.

The under 18 boys’ quartet came away with silver (10,112pts) while the under 16 girls (9,754pts) and under 18 girls (10,384pts) categories both placed third in the final standings. The under 16 boys’ end finishing tally was 8,261 points in fourth.

The full Welsh Schools results over the weekend were:

Under 16 Girls / Merched o dan 16 (lead coach: Amy Billington)

Olivia Schrimshaw (Ysgol Brynhyfryd) – 60m Hurdles (8.84), 800m (2:40.75), Long Jump (5.90m), High Jump (1.50m), Shot Put (8.98m)

Beatrice Morgan (Ysgol Bro Dinefwr) – 60m Hurdles (9.12), 800m (2:33.01), Long Jump (5.26m), High Jump (1.47m), Shot Put (9.31m)

Tiana Odugbesan (Blackwood Comprehensive) - 60m Hurdles (9.35), 800m (2:36.65), Long Jump (5.07m), High Jump (1.44m), Shot Put (9.80m)

Mari Wilson (Ysgol Y Strade) - 60m Hurdles (10.40), 800m (2:44.39), Long Jump (4.29m), High Jump (1.50m), Shot Put (6.58m)

Welsh Schools Athletics Association U16 Girls Team Photo.

Under 16 Boys / Bechgyn o dan 16 (lead coach: Mike Guest)

Harvey Thomas (Haverfordwest High School) - 60m Hurdles (9.48), 200m (25.59), 800m (2:13.19), Long Jump (5.21m), Shot Put (12.13m)

Aidan Angilletta (Connah’s Quay High School) - 60m Hurdles (8.78), 200m (26.10), 800m (2:24.79), Long Jump (5.75m), Shot Put (10.45m)

Toby Lemon (Hawarden High School) - 60m Hurdles (9.51), 200m (24.82), 800m (2:07.25), Long Jump (5.27m), Shot Put (8.40m)

Tom Gilbert (St Martin’s School) - 60m Hurdles (9.77), 200m (25.76), 800m (2:08.17), Long Jump (5.16m), Shot Put (8.58m)

Welsh Schools Athletics Association U16 Boys Team Photo.

Under 18 Girls / Merched o dan 18 (lead coach: Phil Warwicker/Emily Thomas)

Matilda Quick (Morriston Comprehensive) - 60m Hurdles (9.02), 800m (2:42.16), Long Jump (5.37m), High Jump (1.62m), Shot Put (12.01m)

Megan Taylor (Cardiff High School) - 60m Hurdles (9.01), 800m (2:40.69), Long Jump (5.47m), High Jump (1.62m), Shot Put (10.55m)

Nia Powell (Ysgol Llanhari) - 60m Hurdles (9.32), 800m (2:32.14), Long Jump (5.24m), High Jump (1.62m), Shot Put (8.97m)

Evie Aitchison (Morriston Comprehensive) - 60m Hurdles (9.71), 800m (2:31.50), Long Jump (4.31m), High Jump (1.41m), Shot Put (9.59m)

Welsh Schools Athletics Association U18 Girls Team Photo.

Under 18 Boys / Bechgyn o dan 18 (lead coach: Phil Warwicker)

Luca Phillips (Cowbridge Comprehensive School) - 60m Hurdles (8.17), 200m (23.26), 800m (2:11.27), Long Jump (6.90m), Shot Put (10.60m)

Abdullah Afolabi (St David’s College) - 60m Hurdles (8.92), 200m (24.29), 800m (2:20.50), Long Jump (6.32m), Shot Put (13.99m)

Osian Parry (Radyr Comprehensive School) - 60m Hurdles (8.64), 200m (23.28), 800m (2:10.44), Long Jump (6.38m), Shot Put (8.72m)

Salem Kiambi (Whitchurch High School) - 60m Hurdles (8.64), 200m (23.17), 800m (2:33.13), Long Jump (5.94m), Shot Put (13.59m)

Welsh Schools Athletics Association U18 Boys Team Photo.

FULL RESULTS

For Welsh Schools pupils, attention now turns to March when the SIAB Schools Cross Country International will head to Santry in Dublin, Ireland. This will be followed by the SIAB track and field International which Wales will be hosting this summer in July 2024.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Welsh Schools news and upcoming cross country and sportshall events for all eight Welsh districts on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WelshSchoolsAA) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/welsh_aa)