Jenny Nesbitt Times Late Surge To Win Wales Commonwealth Games Spot

Jenny Nesbitt will make her Commonwealth Games debut for Wales on the Gold Coast, after her late selection to run in the 10,000m.

The 22-year-old has been called up following the withdrawl through injury of Dewi Griffiths, who was due to run both the men’s 10,000m and 5,000m.

Nesbitt, who is based in Worcester, will join fellow female distance runners Elinor Kirk, Caryl Jones and Melissa Courtney in the Team Wales squad for the Gold Coast, Australia next month.

“I couldn’t believe it when I was told that I’d been selected, and I am just so, so happy to be given the opportunity to represent Wales on the Gold Coast,” said Nesbitt.

Nesbitt won the Reading Half Marathon women’s section in 72 min, 54 sec last year and was sixth at the European Under 23 Championships in Poland in 33.50.37. She also finished fifth at the World Student Games in Taiwan.

She has a best time over 10,000 metres of 32.59.52, making her the sixth fastest Welsh woman of all-time over the distance.

Selection for the Games is made even sweeter by the fact that Nesbitt has undergone two knee surgeries in the last 18 months, setbacks she believes have only made her stronger in her return to form this year.

“Having been through two operations in the past 18 months, it makes my selection feel even better, and I’m really hoping that I can produce my best performance on the Gold Coast and use the Games as a springboard to progress even more.”

Chris Jones, national endurance manager, said: “Jenny is coming into great form, and has been pushing for selection having represented Great Britain at the World Student Games and European U23 Championships last year.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity for one of our up and coming young athletes to compete on the world stage.”

Nesbitt will compete in the Women’s 10,000m final on April 9 at the Carrara Stadium, having raced herself back into form over the past few months.

After finishing 6th at the BUCS Cross-Country Championships on the 6th February, she then competed at the Armagh 3k Road Race, before producing a fine performance at the Bourton 10k on the 25th February, where she ran a personal best time on the road of 33:24.