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Monday 7th August – History Made
08/08/2023 00:00, In Blog / Club Notice Board / Track & Field / Commonwealth Games /
History was made on the first day of athletics competition in Trinidad as Tomi Roberts-Jones took gold in the men’s T38 100m to win Wales’ first para gold medal in Commonwealth Youth Games history. Whilst Mia Lloyd became the first female para-athlete to represent Team Wales at a Commonwealth Youth Games.
The morning session got underway with the men’s 100m heats and men’s T38 100m semi-finals.
First to compete was Lewis Stephens (Cardiff Athletics) who finished third in his heat with a time of 10.90 to progress to the semi-finals. Athletics team captain Joseph Berry (Newport Harriers) was up next, finishing fourth in his heat with 10.96 to also progress to the semi-finals.
Next to the track was William Bishop (DSW Para Academy) in the men’s T38 100m, Bishop finished second in his heat with a new PB of 14.49 seconds to progress to the final. Tomi Roberts-Jones (DSW Para Academy) was up next hoping to secure his spot in that final. Roberts-Jones finished second in his heat with a time of 13.73 to see him through.
The afternoon session got underway with the men’s 100m semi-finals. Joseph Berry (Newport Harriers) was first to the track in semi-final 1, Berry finished fourth with a time of 10.95. Next up was Lewis Stephens (Cardiff Athletics) in semi-final 3, Stephens finished fifth with a time of 10.94.
In the women’s long jump final Jessica Lee (Carmarthen & District Harriers) was in action. Lee finished fourth overall registering a distance of 5.87m.
Back on the track, Joseph Rees Gara (Wigan & District) was looking to book his place in the men’s 1500m final. Gara finished fourth in his semi-final with a time of 4:11.84 to qualify.
Also taking to the track was Zico Jones (Shaftesbury Barnett) in the men’s 400m semi-final. Jones finished fifth with a time of 51.16 seconds.
In the first of the throws events for Team Wales, Mia Lloyd (DSW Para Academy / Carmarthen & District Harriers) made history to become the first para-athlete to represent Team Wales at a Commonwealth Youth Games. Lloyd finished fourth in the women’s F42-44/F61-64 discus final, registering a best distance of 14.83m.
To complete the first day of athletics action was the men’s T38 100m. Tomi Roberts-Jones ran a new personal best time of 13.27 seconds to make history to win Wales’ first para gold medal at a Commonwealth Youth Games. Fellow teammate William Bishop (DSW Para Academy) finished fifth with 14.46 seconds, improving on his personal best time set in the morning session.
Keep up-to-date with all the Commonwealth Youth Games news here.