The Ynys Mon Island Games Athletics team have been in full flow in preparation for Jersey 2015 with National and GB athletes amongst the young and talented team. Following on from one of the greatest Games held in Bermuda in 2013 where the young team captured 7 medals, the squad know that the standard and target of equalling 7 medals will be a strong and much harder task in Jersey.
With less than three months to go to the major sporting event, it is with great pleasure we introduce the 2015 YMIGA Athletics Squad for Jersey:
Alex Burgess, Iolo Hughes, Chris Mcnaught, Gethin Hughes, Rheon Jones, Michael Bland, Sean Riley, Mathew Jarvis, Santiago Rayment Gomez, Aron Evans, Shaun Livett, Connor Laverty, Iwan Parry, Dave Lemon, Mared Baker, Sophie Jones, , Emma Roberts, Glesni Tegid, Lucy Beesley, Emilly Ridges, Helen Hanstock, Brea Leung, and Sarah Livett. Athletics Co-ordinator and coach is Barry John Edwards with Alwyn Roberts and Mairwen Roberts as Team Managers, and team physio’s will be Sophie Roberts (as well as spint/relay athlete) & Dan Grace.
Currently athletes are in their last preparation phases with some finalising their preparations abroad, these include Brea Leung who is out in Australia, Sarah Livett in America, and Iolo Hughes in Spain with the warm weather training camp.
Amongst the team are runners jumpers and throwers ranked top 3 in Wales as well as a couple of endurance athletes ranked in top 3 in the UK for their age groups. With strength and conditioning sessions delivered by Commonwealth Games Weightlifting Champion Ray Williams amongst one of the key aspects of the winter training programme, incorporating nutrition, sports psychology and general team building prior to Jersey will also play a crucial part in the athletes preparations for the 2015 games which is only three months away.
Athletics Co-ordinator Barry John Edwards commented “everyone is looking forward to Jersey and the real work and preparation over the winter training period will reward those who have put in the hard grafting hours. With 7 medals achieved at Bermuda in 2013, the team know that the standard and number of competitors will be much higher, however with the athletes Ynys Mon have and effort put in this winter, there is nothing stopping us reaching 7 medals or more at Jersey with the talented squad we have”.
The athletics team would like to thank Hogans, Holyhead Round Table, Stena Line, First Hy-dro, Watkin Jones, and Spar for the contributions and sponsorship towards the athletes and athletics kit ready for Jersey 2015. Thanks also to supermarkets such as Asda, Tesco, Morrison’s and Waitrose also for support via fundraising events, thanks to community effort and contribution it is possible to ensure athletes look and feel good whilst competing out in Jersey.
Athlete profiles
Alex Burgess – A talented young sprinter with astonishing pace who has broken various track records across North Wales. With a bright future ahead he will no doubt be one of the junior stars in the Jersey 2015 Island Games.
Iolo Hughes – The athlete of the games in 2013 Bermuda Island Games who took the gold medal in the men’s 5000m event will be looking to defend his title and challenge for a cou-ple of other medals no doubt.
Chris Mcnaught – 400m finalist at the 2013 Bermuda Island Games who set a new personal best time and picked up two medals in the relay’s, will be looking to run 49.7s for the 400m at the 2015 Jersey Games.
Gethin Hughes – A young jumper with bags of potential in the high, triple and long jump events, with new junior school records achieved and selection for the North Wales T&F team, confidence is high and a new personal best will be the main focus for Jersey 2015.
Rheon Jones – Silver medallist at the Bermuda 2013 games in the 400m Hurdles event, now since moving to Cardiff University his focus has switched to the 400m, an athlete with great potential who will be looking to repeat his medal success in the 4x400m relay also.
Michael Bland – Two medals at the 2013 Bermuda Island Games in the 4×100 and 4x400m races and an excellent performance in the individual 100m race, 2015 will see Michael’s hard work and commitment pay off with new personal bests and a place in the 100m final.
Sean Riley – A young talented athlete who will have his first taste of the Island Games this summer, a strong 400m runner and as a junior athlete at 15 years of age Sean will make his appearance as part of the 4x400m relay team.
Mathew Jarvis – A young talented athlete who will have his first taste of the Island Games this summer, a strong 100m & 200m runner and as a junior athlete at 15 years of age Mathew will make his appearance as part of the 4x100m relay team.
Santiago Rayment Gomez – A young talented athlete who is a talent on the tennis courts as well as the track, Santiago will be in the line-up for the men’s 4x400m as well as team Ynys Mon Tennis squad.
Aron Evans – Former Llanelli Scarlet’s junior rugby player who has blistering pace and experience on the national athletics scene where he took a couple of medals as a junior track athlete, his pace will be welcomed for the men’s 4x100m relay team.
Shaun Livett – One of the country’s up and coming throwers who has plenty of experience at National Championships and features heavily in the top 3 best throwers throughout the country at u20’s. This will be Shaun’s first games of many to come.
Connor Laverty – A medallist in Bermuda 2013 games with the men’s shot putt event, now Connor is even stronger, faster, older and wiser who knows what this talented young man will come up with in Jersey. He is in top form with a personal best throw in his last outing.
Iwan Parry – High Jumper Iwan Parry will be making his Island Games debut in Jersey and the young athlete who has a 2 meter jump in his sights will be looking to pick up a personal best and hopefully a medal, but who knows what colour that medal will be.
Dave Lemon – PTI Dave Lemon who will also feature in the triathlon will be competing in the men’s half marathon. This will be David’s first games and he is most certainly going to be making an impact on the quality and standard of team Ynys Mon.
Mared Baker – A dedicated jumper and sprinter who has been training hard for Jersey, featured top 3 best jumper in the country as a junior and has since specified as a 100m and 200m sprinter who will be a key feature in the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.
Sophie Jones – A very talented athlete with huge potential in the 100m and 200m, has the potential to clock 12.50s and with Jersey 2015 being her first games, she will be making a strong appearance in these two very popular events.
Emma Roberts – Cardiff based athlete Emma Roberts who has competed in a handful of games already will be making a come back for Jersey 2015 where her pace and experience will be welcomed in the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
Glesni Tegid – A junior athlete making fast progress and developing rapidly for the 100m event as well as the women’s 4x100m relay team. With a go hard or go home attitude Glesni will no doubt leave Jersey with a personal best, and will be a key runner in the relay.
Lucy Beesley – Silver medallist from Rhodes 2007 in the 100m, Lucy will be focusing on the women’s 400m and 4x400m this time out and her talent and experience will help team Ynys Mon. Could this be the first ever women’s 4x400m top 3 finish by Ynys Mon?
Emilly Ridges – Raw power and speed could see Emilly sprinting herself to her first ever Island Games 100m final, she is a talented sprinter with a bright future in athletics. One of the youngest in the team but also one of the quickest.
Helen Hanstock – A multi eventer with bags of experience and knowledge and will feature in a couple of events this June / July. Trains and competes with Bangor University Athletics team and Jersey 2015 will be Helen’s first taste of the island games.
Brea Leung – A previous medallist with raw power currently in Australia fine tuning herself ready for Jersey, Brea will be aiming for a top 3 finish in the women’s discus and will be a realistic medal contender at the 2015 Jersey games.
Sophie Roberts – Sophie is now a Swansea based athlete where she works in Moriston Hospital as a physiotherapist. This will be Sophie’s third games, only missing Bermuda due to university commitments. She is a talented 200m and 100m sprinter and will be in the 4 x 100 relay team.
Sarah Livett – Having the time of her life in America, Sarah will be looking to build from her success in Bermuda and has the double in mind for Jersey, lets see what that double will be. A determined athlete with plenty of mileage in those legs and one mean sprint finish.
One’s to watch!
Emilly Ridges – 100m / 200m
Helen Hanstock – Long Jump and Triple Jump
Brea Leung – Discus
Sarah Livett – 1500m and 5k
Sophie Jones – 100m / 200m
Alex Burgess – 100m / 200m
Iolo Hughes – 1500m / 5k
Chris Mcnaught – 400m
Shaun livett – Hammer
Connor Laverty – Shot Put
Iwan Parry – High Jump
Relay teams – Serious contenders for 2015 top 5 positions in all four relays.
Athletics would like to thank the following sponsors: Watkin Jones, Hogans, Holyhead Round Table, First Hydro and Spar