Welsh Athletics Stellar Year Continues As Eight Get Euro Call

By Owen Morgan

Eight Welsh athletes have been named in the Great Britain team heading for the European Athletics Championships next month.

The Welsh contingent is the highest since the 1986 Europeans in Stuttgart and double the number selected for the last championships held in Holland two years ago.

Chris Jones, Interim Head of Performance and Coaching for Welsh Athletics said: “It’s great to see so many of our senior athletes earning selection for Berlin.

“The systems we’re building here in Wales to identify and support our athletes and coaches are really starting to bear fruit, and I’d hope that this is just the start of things to come.”

There is only one survivor from the 2016 GB team in Amsterdam – Melissa Courtney, who this time will be competing in the 5000m after bowing out in the first round of the 1500m last time.

The Poole AC athlete sealed her place in the GB team by winning a silver medal at the British Championships in Birmingham earlier this month having already gained the qualifying mark.

Another who guaranteed his place at the Alexander Stadium is Swansea Harrier Dai Greene, who won gold in the 110m hurdles.

The former European and World champion’s return to the global stage after five seasons of injury woe will continue in Berlin following his bronze medal winning performance at the recent Athletics World Cup.