By Owen Morgan
Welsh Winter Olympic bobsleigh star Mica Moore will be amongst a strong contingent of Welsh athletics talent competing at the 60th Loughborough International this Sunday.
Moore, who finished eighth in Pyeongchang with Great Britain team-mate Mica McNeill just three months ago, will run in the 100m and 4x 100m relay as part of a Welsh team which will take on England, Scotland, Great Britain Under-20s and British Universities.
As well as the official Wales squad competing in the prestigious annual event at the Paula Ratcliffe Stadium, there will also be six hugely promising Welsh athletes in the Great Britain Under-20 team.
The Wales squad is a mixture of youth and experience.
As well as Newport sprinter Moore, there is also a return to international track action for Olympian and World Championship medallist Seren Bundy Davies, of Trafford AC, who is included in the women’s 4x400m squad after also missing the Gold Coast games.
Two of those who did represent Wales in Australia – long jumper Rebecca Chapman and hammer thrower Osian Jones – are also in the team, along with World and Olympic discus thrower Brett Morse.
Among the less experienced members of the Wales squad are Kiara Frizell (3000m), Bethany Moule (javelin), Laura Turley (4x400m), Alicia Samuel (4x100m) and Matt Harding (800m), who will all be pulling on the Welsh senior vest for the first time.
Welsh Athletics head of performance Scott Simpson said: “The event will be a great opportunity for individual athletes to gain more high level experience as they build towards another busy summer season of competition.”
The six Welsh athletes included in the Great Britain Under-20 team are Sarah Omoregie (shot put), James Tomlinson (discus), Bethan Rees (javelin), Nicholas Young (shot put) Lauren Williams (400m Hurdles and 4 x 400m relay) and Joe Brier (4 x 400m relay).
Commenting on the Welsh contingent in the Great Britain squad, Simpson added: “I’m really excited about our under 20s right now, we’ve got a really promising cohort coming through, and to have five athletes in the GB junior team is excellent.
“This is a great opportunity for them and another step towards potential World Junior selection.”
The Welsh team for the Loughborough International is:
Men: Sam Gordon (100m); Tom Williams (200m); Owen Smith (400m); Glen Elsdon (110mH); Paul Bennett (400m H); Matt Harding (800m); Jonathan Tobin (1500m); Guy Smith (3000m); Ciaran Lewis (3000m S/C); Aled Price (long jump); Gage Francis (triple jump); Jonathon Bailey (high jump); Gareth Winter (shot put); Brett Morse (discus); Osian Jones (hammer); Nathan James (javelin). 4 x 100m Men: Sam Gordon, Jeremiah Azu, Cameron Starr, Kristian Jones, Dewi Hammond, Tom Williams.
Women: Mica Moore (100m); Amy Odunaiya (200m); Laura Maddox (400m); Julia Cooke (800m); Ffion Price (1500m); Kiara Frizelle (1500m); Melanie Wilkins (3000m S/C); Rebecca Chapman (long jump); Sian Swanson (triple jump); Clare Maurer (pole vault); Lucy Griffiths (shot put); Amber Simpson (hammer); Bethany Moule (javelin). 4 x 100m Women: Hannah Brier, Mica Moore, Shannon Malone, Alicia Samuel, Amelia Reynolds, Rebecca Chapman, Amy Odunaiya. 4 x 400m Women: Seren Bundy Davies, Laura Maddox, Laura Turley, Lauren Williams, Amelia Reynolds (non-scoring).
More information about Sunday’s event can be found at the Loughborough Sport website.