‘Adele inspiring me to Games qualification’

Forden marathon man, Andrew Davies, said he will use the ‘Adele-factor’ to inspire him to make the Commonwealth Games qualification time and take his place alongside her in Team Wales in Birmingham this summer.

Davies has come agonisingly close to making the 2:15.30 qualification standard for this summer’s event, but he has one last chance next month at the Seville Marathon to book his place, and he appears to be in the form of his life at his winter training camp in Spain.

“It has been going really well here in Spain,” said Davies. “I’ve just done the Valencia 10km and got a personal best (PB) of 29 minutes 39 seconds so delighted at that. I thought the chance of a PB went a few years ago so it’s great to know I’m still in form!”

The Newtown college lecturer has been well supported by Welsh Athletics and New Balance, as well as his employer, to undertake warm weather training in Aguilas, southern Spain, where he has been “ticking over nicely”.

“I have got a few more tricky weeks to navigate but hopefully it’ll all be good,” he told us last night. “I am going into the marathon confident knowing (usually) the conditions are usually pretty good, maybe a bit of wind, but nothing too serious.

“My last two marathons, which have been in London, have been very windy and dented my chances of the time I require, so hopefully Seville should come up trumps!”

Like the rest of us, Davies has watched in awe as Welshpool athlete Adele Nicoll booked her place in Team Wales for shot putt, and then last weekend she secured a spot in Team GB’s two-woman bobsleigh for the Beijing Olympics starting soon.

“It’s unbelievable that someone local can achieve something as prestigious as going to the Olympic Games,” he said. “Fair play to her as all the years of hard work and dedication are starting to pay off.

“It’s great she’s already got the qualifying standard for the Commonwealth Games too so hopefully I can join her there! I love watching the Winter Olympics so I am sure it’ll get more people locally to tune in and, who knows? may inspire others to take up these winter sports. Good luck Adele.”

The 37th Seville Marathon will be held on February 20 and is one of the biggest in Europe, but this year’s Covid-restricted field will be down to 10,000 runners.