Ieuan Thomas has been added to British team for the World Championships after being given and IAAF invitation to compete in London between 4-13 August.
The 28-year-old Cardiff AAC steeplechaser becomes the fifth Welsh athlete to join Team GB after receiving an official invite from the IAAF to take part. He is one of six extra athletes added to the British selection, taking the team up to a record high of 87.
Joining the James Thie coached runner will be Meghan Beesley (400H), Chris Bennett (Hammer), Rachel Wallader (Shot Putt), Nick Percy (Discus) and Alicia Barrett (100H)
“This invitation follows a fantastic year for Ieuan that has seen him has improved his PB, set back in 2014, by more than seven seconds. He has now gone sub-8.35 on three occasions this year and boasts a new PB of 8.33.59,” said Welsh Athletics performance director Scott Simpson.
“This is all following a nasty injury in 2016 that saw him miss most of the season. Huge credit should go to his coach, James Thie, for navigating through some difficult times and helping Ieuan to achieve such a fantastic feat.”
Thomas, third at the British championships and the winner of the Welsh section of the Cardiff Half Marathon in 2014, will join fellow Welsh athletes David Omoregie (110H), Josh Griffiths (Marathon), Andrew Davies (Marathon) and Bethan Davies (20km Race Walk) in the British team.
Thomas becomes the third Welshman to compete in the steeplechase at the World Championship as he follows in the steps of Roger Hackney and Justin Chaston. Hackney was fifth in the inaugural event in Helsinki in 1983, clocking 8.19.38 and 14th in 1987, while Chaston was eighth in the 1995 semi-finals in 8.38.90.
Having cracked the A Standard for qualifying for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next April, Thomas will be able to use the experience of competing in London to boost his chances of pushing for a medal down under. His PB in Belgium in May has made him the third fastest Briton in his event this summer, with Swansea’s Jonathan Hopkins back in fifth with his qualifying mark of 8:34.03 in the same race.
The timetable for Welsh athletes is as follows;
Sunday, 6 August – 10.05am – Men’s Steeplechase Heats, 10.55am – Men’s Marathon, 13.15pm – Men’s 110mH Heats, 20.10pm – Men’s 110mH Semi-Final*
Monday, 7 August – 21.30pm – Men’s 110mH Final*
Tuesday, 8 August – 21.10pm – Men’s Steeplechase Final*
Sunday, 13 August – 12.20am – Women’s 20km Race Walk
* Subject to progression through the rounds