Scotland Commonwealth Games 2022 - Team selection

[carterhatch]

As Marra mentioned on another thread Scotland have 'pre selected' some athletes for 2022 Commonwealths, Laura Muir, Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman, Eilish McColgan, Jemma Reekie and Andy Butchart. An impressive lineup ...

https://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/68570-2/

Never one to miss a chance to talk about relays... Scotland could put together quite an interesting women's 4x400, injuries and illness aside, Yeargin and Clark are sure to be joined by Dobbin, but the fourth component is still open, Carys McAulay is on the up, or might Reekie/Muir fancy it? I was impressed by one of the young u17 800 girls in a Loughborough long relay, but this event might come too soon, so what about Georgina Adam making progress at 200, or, could Lyndsey Sharp return with postpartum vigour...

Anyway, thoguht it useful to have a thread as the team builds.

[trickstat]

Although both Muir and Reekie have now run quicker than Sharp at 800, I still think the latter would be faster over 400m if she gets back near her best again.

[treadwater1]

I’d like to see Reekie run a few 400s in general, of course she comes from a 8/15 background but there is a trend developing in women’s 800 of having good 400 pace, Mu, Hodgkinson, Rogers and Almanza are 4/8 types. Little sign of Mcaslan of late, she ran a fair number of relay legs for Scotland and GB a few years ago, her last race was in 2019 according to Pof10

[carterhatch]

Can't change the title of the thread - even though I started it - my fault really, I should have named it 'Home Nations Commonwealth Games 2022' . But Wales have named their athletes for the Commonwealth Games

The full team is: Jeremiah Azu (men’s 100m), Olivia Breen (women’s T38 100m, Joe Brier (men’s 400m), Hannah Brier (women’s 200m), Natasha Cockram (women’s marathon), Piers Copeland (men’s 1500m), Melissa Courtney-Bryant (women’s 1500m), Aled Davies (men’s para discus), Bethan Davies (women’s 10,000m walk), Clara Evans (women’s marathon), Lauren Evans (heptathlon), Dewi Griffiths (men’s marathon), Heather Lewis (women’s 10,000m walk), Osian Jones (men’s hammer), Rhys Jones (men’s T38 100m), Jake Heyward (men’s 1500m), Jonny Hopkins (men’s 3000m steeplechase), Jenny Nesbitt (women’s 5000m), Adele Nicoll (women’s shot), Julie Rogers (para discus), Amber Simpson (women’s hammer), Harrison Walsh (para discus).

https://athleticsweekly.com/athletic...am-1039957321/

they might struggle put out any 'Knotweed' I mean relays...

[Ladyloz]

Hopefully Piers Copeland will be fit enough to race and be competitive.

Interesting to note that Melissa Courtney-Bryant is doing the 1500m here. I wonder if she'll target that or the 5000m for Worlds & European selection?

No Men's 4x100m is harsh but I am sure it's fallen victim to the strict quotas imposed by the Commonwealth Games Federation - I think this is going to be a common theme over the next few weeks as other teams are confirmed.

[RunUnlimited]

Hopefully Piers Copeland will be fit enough to race and be competitive.

Interesting to note that Melissa Courtney-Bryant is doing the 1500m here. I wonder if she'll target that or the 5000m for Worlds & European selection?

No Men's 4x100m is harsh but I am sure it's fallen victim to the strict quotas imposed by the Commonwealth Games Federation - I think this is going to be a common theme over the next few weeks as other teams are confirmed.

It seems particularly harsh for the Wales men because they have 3 of them who have all run under 10.30 this year (Azu, Samuel Gordon and Dewi Hammond - who set his 10.26 PB just last week), so might be able to form a half-decent 4x100m squad if they added a couple more to the mix. Unlucky for sure.

[carterhatch]

Yes, [aside from my tongue-in-cheek knotweed comment aimed at he knows who ] I am very surprised that given the 3 men in the 100 are doing well that Wales didn't select a quartet - unlucky for sure.

[PotterHoppo96]

I think the England team quota is 67 (excluding Para picks) when there will.almost certainly be over 100 athletes with qualifying standards I imagine. I get the CGF wanting to limit the athletes at the games, but I worry we'll end up with a few events with about 5/6 athletes taking part. Possibly the Men's Pole Vault as an example.

I think the CGF keeping back a few spaces to top up certain events should be looked at

[Occasional Hope]

There's also the concern that if people are doubling up they might drop out of an already denuded field at the last minute.

[Ladyloz]

The quota is 70. And the Para team has already been selected.

I agree I think there will be a fair number of disappointed athletes. And I can certainly see some straight finals in certain events.

The England selection document (see below) does reference selection of reserves, so hopefully we will end up with 70 English athletes lining up in Birmingham, as I am sure there will be some drop outs. And the logistics of replacing an athlete are obviously much easier for a Home games.

6.3.9 The Selection Panel will, for the purposes of section 9.6 and otherwise, consider the
above criteria in selecting a reserve list, which shall be ranked to ensure that there will
be a pre-determined order for replacing selected athletes who become unable to
compete for whatever reason.


Link to Full selection Policy - https://www.englandathletics.org/ath...nwealth-games/

[Runner88]

This may not be a popular opinion, but I have no interest in watching the para events and seeing them combined into the CWG main programme, especially when the quota for teams is as small as it is. Wales could have sent a decent mens 4x100m relay team but can't because there's no space for the likes of Sam Gordon and Dewi Hammond.

There's next to zero discussion on this form about para events and athletes but the powers that be seem intent on adding more of their events into athletics programmes, and in some cases, as I saw at Bham indoor grand prix, taking considerable prize money...

Also why was the team selected before the Welsh senior championships taking place this weekend??

[Ladyloz]

This may not be a popular opinion, but I have no interest in watching the para events and seeing them combined into the CWG main programme, especially when the quota for teams is as small as it is. Wales could have sent a decent mens 4x100m relay team but can't because there's no space for the likes of Sam Gordon and Dewi Hammond.

There's next to zero discussion on this form about para events and athletes but the powers that be seem intent on adding more of their events into athletics programmes, and in some cases, as I saw at Bham indoor grand prix, taking considerable prize money...

Also why was the team selected before the Welsh senior championships taking place this weekend??

The number of Para Events have been pretty much the same for a few Games now - obviously for the Commonwealth Games there isn't really the Money involved to have a separate games as with the Olympics/Paralympics so having a relatively small number of Para events isn't really an issue.

The quotas have to be seen in a much wider context. Nobody outside of UK/Australia seems interested in hosting the games now. Durban was originally due to host this year but dropped out and Birmingham stepped in a little over 4 years ago. With less time than usual to organise it's perhaps unsurprising that there is only the finance involved for certain numbers in terms of accommodation etc.

The Commonwealths like the Olympics have perhaps become a little bloated over the years in terms of sports; that may change going forward as only swimming & Athletics are now mandatory sports for games hosts and of course Individual sports get disproportionately affected in terms of quotas as you have to have certain squad sizes for the Team Sports. And of course there are more women's events across the board in all sports now which is right.

[carterhatch]

Scotland could put together quite an interesting women's 4x400, injuries and illness aside, Yeargin and Clark are sure to be joined by Dobbin, but the fourth component is still open, Carys McAulay is on the up, or might Reekie/Muir fancy it?

I asked this question before the season began [top of the thread] and today its been reported that Ms. McAulay has achieved a PB in the 400... I reckon Scotland are looking an outside chance for a CG medal, but why-o-why has Beth Dobbin not run a couple of 400s to enhance hers and Scotland's chances. [she appears to have platuea'd in the 200]

[Runner88]

I suspect she’s under pressure to concentrate on 100m/200m so that she can step into the GB 4x100m team when needed. Don’t think she’s part of the ideal starting line up but with a few ladies not quite hitting top form so far this season she might just get in. The result in Birmingham bodes well for her inclusion.

A shame though as I do think she has a lot of potential over 400m and this would have been a great season to explore it given the number of relays open to her.

[trickstat]

She may also be doing 200s just to ensure selection for the CGs and improve her chances of making the Euros. Also she can get the odd Diamond League invite for the 200 which helps financially. Unless she pulls out at least a low 51 in a low-key meet she won't get one for the 400.

[Sprintfan]

How many 400's did John Regis run outside of Relays?

[Occasional Hope]

The England selectors were supposed to be having their meeting today, although I don't think we'll hear anything for another week or so. Hopefully not too many people disappointed.

[PotterHoppo96]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/61880659

Northern Ireland have announced their Commonwealth Games team.

England were supposed to name theirs today I think, maybe in the next few hours

[Ladyloz]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/61880659

Northern Ireland have announced their Commonwealth Games team.

England were supposed to name theirs today I think, maybe in the next few hours

According to the selection document, the team was due to be sent to Commonwealth Games England for ratification today. So may be another day or 2 before it's officially announced. I think I'll set up a separate thread for this as I can see it generating a fair amount of debate.

Anyone know when the final Scotland selection is due?

[marilyn1]

Although both Muir and Reekie have now run quicker than Sharp at 800, I still think the latter would be faster over 400m if she gets back near her best again.

I have made a study of the most frequently used words on AW Forum. They are "if" and " injury".😄😄