News

26/01/2022 00:00, In Blog / Track & Field /

This years 2022 Indoor Senior and U15 Championships are set to take place this weekend for the first time in 2 years!

Entires are now closed and there has been a high intake, with many of Wales’s top athletes entered as they embark on a very important year ahead of the Commonwealth Games. With restrictions eased, this weekend will be a great opportunity to get up and close to some of those athletes who will be challenging for top spots come the summer Commonwealth Games.

“We’re really excited to see the return of our indoor Championships in this hugely significant year for Welsh athletes and hope that it will be a key marker in preparations for both indoor and outdoor major Championships for many.”

Head of Competitions, Rhiannon Linington-Payne

To know exactly when each event is happening, click here for the timetable.

Spectator tickets can be found here Day 1 | Day 2

Coach registration can be found here Day 1 | Day 2

Athlete information can be found here

Top events and athlete line ups to look out for include: 

WOMENS 60m HURDLES :

Looks to be a 4-way battle between Caryl Granville of Swansea (8.45s), Grace Morgan of Cardiff Archers (8.67s) Lauren Evans of Cardiff AAC (8.70s) and Scot Heather Paton (8.28s).

MENS 1500m :

Junior Osian Perrin (Menai) has been breaking records with everything he has stepped on the track recently, and his 4:01.67 PB doesn’t reflect his ability to compete in this race. Looking to put an end to Perrin stepping on top of the podium though, is Remi Adebiyi (Newport), who has a 3:40.36 best and has been running himself into shape recently. Interestingly, James Thie (Pontypridd), the V40 man, and a World Indoor Masters Champion over this distance, is also entered. How close will he go to his 3:37.06 personal best!?

MENS 60m :

Fresh off his personal best and World Indoor Championships qualifying of 6.60s last weekend, Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff) heads the mens 60m. Local man Sam Gordon (Cardiff) is also entered, and with a PB of 6.67s is the second fastest on paper. Dewi Hammond (Cardiff) might give both men a run for their money if he can get anywhere near his PB of 6.70s too.

WOMENS 60m :

Hannah Brier (Swansea) heads the women's 60m and looks to be in good form after clocking her fastest 60m time in 5 years last weekend, clocking 7.31s. Mica Moore (Birchfield) is also in great shape, after running a personal best at the World Indoor Tour event in Manchester last weekend, running 7.48s, so this races looks to be a good match up against two of Wales top sprinters.

MENS SHOT :

Patrick Swan (Cornwall) will be using this weekend as an opportunity to compete before travelling up to Glasgow to compete at the DNA Event the following weekend. With a PB of 17.45m he comes into the competition with the longest throw, but make sure to watch out for Daniel Cork (Newport) who’s 17.08m could be enough to challenge for the win!

WOMENS SHOT :

Although on the entry list, Adele Nicoll (Birchfield) will most likely be focusing on her debut at the Winter Olympics in just under 2 weeks time, which leaves the competition open to English athlete Amelia Strickler (Thames Valley), who has a personal best of 18.11m. It is unlikely she will be challenged by anyone else, but she will most likely have her eye on the World Indoor Standard of 18.30m.

WOMENS 400m :

Sian Harry (Belgrave) and Amy Odunaiya (Wrexham) are both heading to Glasgow for the DNA event next weekend, but look set to go head first this weekend! With PBs of 54.64s and 53.96s it is set to be an exciting race over 2 laps of the indoor track! Whatever the outcome, it will be a great opportunity for both athletes to get into the racing groove before taking on the other Home Nations and Spain and Turkey in Glasgow.

WOMENS LONG JUMP:

Rebecca Chapman (Cardiff) has jumped some of her best performances in recent weeks and looks set to make a strong bid for top spot on the podium this weekend. With a personal best of 6.54m, she has the longest jump by nearly 50cm, ahead of Emily Thomas of Cardiff Archers (6.05m).

MENS 800m:

James Heneghan (Cardiff), fresh off a solid run over the 1500m at the World Indoor Tour lat weekend is making a bid to become Welsh Champion over the 800m distance. With a personal best of 1:49.22, he is the only man in the field to have broken 1:50.00.

WOMENS 800m:

It looks to be a Rachel v Rachel head to head in the 4 lap event. Rachel McClay (Bracknell) heads the field with a personal best of 2:05.29 and Rachel Scott (Wigan & District) enters with a 2:09.76 to her name. As the only 2 athletes in the field to have broken 2:10.00, you can expect to see them both right at the head of the field.

U15 CHAMPIONSHIPS

U15G 60m HURDLES:

Scarlett Cargill (Newport) with a best of 9.59s heads the field ahead of Matilda Quick (Swansea) and Menna Grant (Cardiff Archers) who’s personal bests are 9.68s and 9.76s. It looks to be a three way battle between the girls, with Cargill and Grant both running their fastest times this year.

U15G 1500m:

You can not look past Libby Hale (Swansea) in this event. With a personal best of 4:44.35, the U13 Welsh Champion from 2021 enters the competition with the quickest time on paper and a wealth of experience for such a young age. Ruby Herdman (Breacon) 4:53.63 is the next fastest entered and will look to challenge Hale over the metric mile.

U15B 60m:

With a personal best of 8.30s, Reuben Williams (Swansea) comes into the race with the quickest time, closely followed by Gethin Griffith (Menai) who’s best performance is 8.38s and Harry Morris (Swansea) with a time of 8.50s. Non of these boys have yet to compete over the 60m distance this year, so it will be exciting to see what they bring to the start line!

U15G 60m:

Nell Desir (Cardiff Archers) headlines the field with a personal best of 7.64s. It is hard to look past her, but if Scarlett Cargill (Newport) decides to double up, she could pose the biggest threat! With a 8.21s to her name, she comes in with the second quickest time. Look out for Menna Grant (Cardiff Archers), Bethan Deeks (Bridgend) and Chloe-Grace Santima (Cardiff) too!

U15B 200m:

Gethin Griffith (Menai) is entered in both the 60m and 60m hurdles, and if he decides to race this event, will do so with the quickest time on paper. With a personal best of 24.38s, he will seek to hold off a challenge from Jose Alzate-Gonzalez (Cardiff), 24.93s personal best and Max Evans (Maldwyn) who’s quickest time is 25.42s.

Follow our social channels (Twitter, Instagram) to keep up-to-date with the live action over the weekend and see the full entry list here!