Athletics: Lucy Evans targets Commonwealth glory for Wales

Jun 18 2009 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

LUCY Evans has one eye on the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year after underlining her status as Wales’ top sprinter.

At the Welsh Championships, the Saughall athlete – whose father Alun is from Wrexham – scorched to victory in the 200m at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium.

And despite just being pipped to the 100m title, the 26-year-old Sale Harrier’s displays this season mean she is still the Principality’s number one female sprinter.

At the recent Euro Grand Prix permit meeting in Switzerland, she qualified with ease before winning the international- grade finals of both the 100m and 200m in times of 11.94sec and 24.20sec respectively.

Lucy’s 200m time was a new personal best for the athlete, who receives focussed training at the Sandycroft Athlete Performance Centre.

She followed that with selection for the Cardiff city team in the new Super 8 format of athletics.

An attempt to emulate the success of Twenty20 cricket by creating a short form of athletics meeting, Super 8 sees eight city teams take each other on in 10 events and a relay medley.

The opening event in Cardiff saw Olympians Tasha Danvers and Christian Malcolm take part.

Lucy finished sixth of eight in the 100m and in the relay medley, made up of two 200m legs, a 400m leg and a 600m leg, she gave Cardiff a great start before the team’s race fell apart, only saved from last after Danvers’ London South team being disqualified.

If she can maintain her form however, she will be a strong contender for the Welsh team in next summer’s Commonwealth Games in India.

“Lucy was disappointed with the Welsh Championships 100m result,” said mum Chris. “But the time was good and she had no complaints about the Super 8.

“Competing at that level can only make her a better athlete.”