Adele confirms Games spot!

There were mixed fortunes for our two leading Athletics stars this morning after Adele Nicoll was included by Team Wales for this summer’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games, but heartbreak for Andy Davies who has not made the squad.

Both athletes have been in the form of their lives in making the qualifying marks for the Games, but while Welshpool’s Adele was named for the women’s shot put, Forden’s Andy did not make the marathon cut.

Adele’s mum let the cat out of the bag this morning when she said she was “bursting with pride” in announcing her daughter’s inclusion.

“We are so incredibly proud to let you know that Adele has been selected to compete for Team Wales at the Commonwealth Games this Summer!” Justine Nicoll (pictured on left with Adele courtesy of Phil Blagg) announced. 

“This is something she has dreamed of from a very young age and has been working tirelessly towards for the last 15 years!

“The road has been long, the journey a tough one both mentally and physically but Adele it is your turn to pull on that Welsh vest at the very highest level.”

Adele has enjoyed a phenomenal year, qualifying as part of the Team GB two-woman bobsleigh team at the Beijing Winter Olympics in February and now making the Team Wales squad for Birmingham.

But it is a disappointing blow to Andy who competed at the last Games in Australia and has been clocking the fastest times of his career to make the grade, including a top 10 finish in the London Marathon last year. 

He eased past the qualifying mark at the Seville Marathon in April, clocking 2:14.22, but only Dewi Griffiths (best time of 2:09.49) has been included for the men’s marathon with Clara Evans and Natasha Cockram going in the women’s event.

Instead, he will now focus on his Great Britain and Northern Ireland selection to compete at the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 50km European Championships in Avila, Spain on October 8.

You can view the full Welsh Athletics squad reveal here