Exclusive by Owen Morgan

Welsh Athletics chief executive James Williams has spoken for the first time about distance star Jake Smith’s decision to switch international allegiance to England – just weeks after becoming eligible to run for Wales.

Bermuda-born Smith successfully applied for Welsh eligibility in October having lived in  Cardiff for more than three-years – satisfying residency qualification requirements.

But six-weeks after breaking athletics legend Steve Jones’ Welsh half marathon record, Smith had a change of heart and has decided to run in future for England – the country of his parents’ birth.

Smith’s decision sparked a debate on social media over the sport’s eligibility rules for international competition.

Welsh Athletics CEO Williams told Dai Sport: “First and for foremost, I think it’s important to be absolutely crystal clear, Welsh Athletics doesn’t chase athletes, we’re not out there chasing around the globe trying to find athletes with any kind of link to Wales.

“I’d like to think the work the team have done here in creating the right environment makes athletes want to be part of that.

“But again, I have to stress, athletes have to go through the affiliation process. We don’t encourage them, we don’t chase them.

 

Jake Smith Sheds Tears Of Joy As He Shatters Steve Jones’ Welsh Half Marathon Record https://t.co/DZ5a8pb69X via @Dai_Sport_

— Graham Thomas (@Graham_Thomas) October 17, 2020

“It is their choice to go through the eligibility process and satisfy that process.  It is heavily scrutinised by our team, we almost sometimes try to find reasons not to apply the eligibility.

“The rules are in place across the UK, we have inherited these rules. Those athletes who went through it, chose to go through it, they satisfied the credentials and that’s their prerogative.

“I’ve seen certain comments saying ‘oh they’re chasing athletes to compete’ and all this type of stuff. No, we don’t do that. And we certainly wouldn’t attempt to do that either.”

Cardiff University student Smith had long spoken of his affection for Wales having set up home in the capital where he lives, studies, trains and represents the city’s athletics club.

As a result, he successfully applied to represent Wales – his eligibility being confirmed just days before breaking Jones’ 34-year-old Welsh record with a brilliant performance at the World Half Marathon Championships on October 17.

However, breaking such an iconic athlete’s national record led to Smith reconsidering his decision to run for Wales.

In a heartfelt Instagram post earlier this month, Smith said: “I hope this doesn’t disappoint people but I have decided to go back to represent England at future competitions instead of Wales.

“I thought at first it was only natural for me to turn Welsh as I live here and have done for the past 3 years but I feel as though I hadn’t thought it through properly.

“The big turning point for me was when I broke Steve Jones’; a Welsh legend of distance running, Half Marathon record after only being Welsh for 4 days. As both my parents were born in England and I don’t have any family ties in Wales, I would feel much better representing England at future competitions.

“However, I would like to thank Welsh Athletics for everything they have done for me as their support to date has been incredible. This is a hard decision for me to make but I feel it’s the right decision.

“I know I may get abuse for changing back and I know it’s wrong but I just feel it’s the right thing going forward. Again sorry if I have disappointed/upset anybody in anyway.”

Williams said there were no hard feelings over Smith’s decision as far as Welsh Athletics was concerned and wished the young star every success in future.

” I think it all came to a head when Jake ran that fantastic time at the World Half Marathon Champs and I think that challenged his own thought process,” said Williams.

“Up until that point he was very much part of the set up down here. And I think he still will be part of the set up here. He’s settled in South Wales, he loves the training group he is part of. Obviously, his coach James Thie is based here in South Wales as well.

“So, I don’t think he’s going to change his environment. We’ve got lots of other athletes who are based in Wales, who are not competing for Wales. We have got some other international athletes who are based here.

“I’d like to think we can ensure that the environment is such that lots of top quality athletes want to be based here and want to work with our system, which hopefully will help those Welsh athletes who are training with them to improve and the whole environment is such that it breeds this positive environment and success can bring more success.

“In fairness to Jake, he has been very open and honest with us. He became Welsh with our blessing and we were obviously delighted that he was going to be part of set up going forward.

“But at the same time, he’s not Welsh now and there’s no animosity between us. We’ll continue cheering him on when he’s wearing the Cardiff vest in club competitions and if he competes internationally you know we will all make sure we have half and eye on his performance.

“It’s just a shame he won’t be wearing a Welsh vest internationally, but that provides opportunities for other athletes to step up and to compete internationally for Wales.

“We very quickly move forward and hopefully everyone, especially Jake, is comfortable and happy with the decisions that they’ve made.

“If he didn’t feel it was the right decision I’m glad he changed that decision as quickly as he has so that we can all move forwards.”

Williams stressed the importance of all Welsh athletes, whether qualified through birth, parentage or residency, feeling supported by the governing body, especially with the 2022 Commonwealth Games on the horizon.

“I think it is important that we are very open – we are mindful of the perceptions of some of the athletics community,” said Williams.

“What we absolutely want is the athletes who have grown up through our systems, that are supported through our systems, feel that they can make major championships. We want that.

“We don’t want any perception that athletes, 18 months out from a Games can drop in and take their slots, that’s not the case at all. So, we want athletes to feel supported and to feel   Welsh in any which way that they get that get that qualification.

 

Jake Smith On His National Record: It Was Only Like Two Weeks Ago That I Got The Email I Had Turned Welsh https://t.co/18tCnkZS7U

— Dai Sport (@Dai_Sport_) October 18, 2020

“So that’s what we want, that’s what we want to breed down here. We want the Welsh Athletics environment to be such that we develop a conveyor belt of talent going forward.”

On the issue of the Welsh half marathon record, Williams said it was unlikely to stay in Smith’s hands now he no longer officially a Welsh athlete.

“I don’t envisage the record being ratified to Jake,” said Williams. “I envisage the record staying with Steve Jones. I think on several levels that is the right thing to do.

“I think it sends the right message to the community that in future people can’t become Welsh for five minutes, take a record and then compete for another country. We can’t have someone who is not Welsh holding a Welsh record.

“Jake’s performance was absolutely fantastic at the World Half Marathon Champs and it will rightly be positioned on the all-time list within British Athletics, but from a Welsh perspective I envisage Steve Jones’ record still standing as we enter the New Year.”