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By Rob Cole
Dai Greene is back on the medal trail after clocking his fastest 400 hurdles time since 2013 to book his ticket to a record-equalling fourth Commonwealth Games in Australia in April.
The 31-year-old, who struck gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, got inside the required Welsh Athletics ‘A’ Standard for the Gold Coast as he clocked 49.49 sec to win a local race in South Africa.
It was a mere hundredth of second off the time he needed to beat, 49.50 sec, and continued his progress.
Greene headed to South Africa in search of races earlier in the month and won his first event on 20 February in 50.08 sec, the first race he had completed since 2016.
On Tuesday night he went much quicker to book his ticket to Australia, where he will join fellow Welsh athletes Steve Jones, Colin Jackson and Christian Malcolm in competing for Wales at four Games. It was his best performance since he won the British title in Birmingham in 48.66 sec on 13 July, 2013.
The former World, European and Commonwealth champion has suffered a horrendous run of injuries since reaching the 2012 Olympic final in London, but was still named among the 21-strong Welsh Athletics team for the Gold Coast. His selection came with the proviso that he clocked a time of 49.50 sec or faster before the team leaves in March.
I won a small race today in Potchefstroom (50.08). First race I’ve finished since 2016. It’s been a long journey to this point but I can’t wait to get back out there and get that time down pic.twitter.com/tr7fFjVyMh
— Dai Greene (@DaiGreene) February 20, 2018
He couldn’t contain his delight after the race and confessed to being in tears after seeing the time. He also paid tribute to his coach at Loughborough University, Benke Blomkvist, in two tweets.
“49.49s for the win this evening! Booking my spot for the Commonwealth Games. Major thanks to coach @hurdlesub13 for making this possible. The fun part of the journey is just beginning!
“I’ve only ever been in tears after 3 races. 2010 Euros. 2012 Olympics. And today. That’s what this means to me. Big step in my journey back to where I want to be.”
I’ve only ever been in tears after 3 races. 2010 Euros. 2012 Olympics. And today. That’s what this means to me. Big step in my journey back to where I want to be #GoldCoast2018 pic.twitter.com/oPAK1cZuVf
— Dai Greene (@DaiGreene) February 27, 2018
In the wake of his return race at the same track last week, Greene tweeted:
“I won a small race today in Potchefstroom (50.08). First race I’ve finished since 2016. It’s been a long journey to this point but I can’t wait to get back out there and get that time down.”
He did just that and 49.49 sec would have ranked him as the second fastest hurdler in the UK in 2017 with Jacob Paul, just behind Jack Green (48.77 sec). It also matched the 17th fastest time in the Commonwealth last year.
The 21-strong Welsh Athletics contingent is part of a 108 athletes in the Team Wales squad that will travel to Australia for the 21st Games that will run from 4-15 April. Wales are one of 70 nations sending teams to take part in 18 different sports.
49.49s for the win this evening! Booking my spot for the Commonwealth Games. Major thanks to coach @hurdlesub13 for making this possible. The fun part of the journey is just beginning pic.twitter.com/CnSKfFhk3h
— Dai Greene (@DaiGreene) February 27, 2018
Many people were concerned when Scott Simpson, the head of coaching and performance at Welsh Athletics, announced Greene in the squad. But he knew what he was doing.
“Dai has historically competed at the highest level and been an individual medallist at major chamionshps. He was unable to compete during the qualification window in 2017, but because of his ability to deliver medals we didn’t want to miss an opportunity to take him,” explained Simpson.
“The Games were still four months away when we initially submitted our team list. We were delighted Team Wales agreed to give him, and Seren Bundy Davies, the chance to prove their fitness.
“He had to achieve a very tough ‘A’ Standard, which wasn’t easy. But his track record speaks for itself – he’s been a World, European and Commonwealth champion.
“We don’t have many athletes like that so, if he is in good shape, why wouldn’t we want to take him to the Games?”
