WORCESTER’S Jenny Nesbitt will make her Commonwealth Games debut for Team Wales on the Gold Coast after her selection to run in the 10,000m was ratified by event officials.
The former RGS Worcester pupil, who runs for the city’s athletics club, will join a talented group of distance runners in Australia from April 4 to April 15.
The Bath University student shared her delight after she received the phone call from Scott Simpson, head of performance, last Tuesday evening.
“I couldn’t believe it when I was told that I’d been selected and I am just so, so happy to be given the opportunity to represent Wales on the Gold Coast,” she said.
Life has become somewhat hectic for Nesbitt since gaining her selection as she rushed down to Cardiff last week to complete routine physio assessments and pick up her kit ahead of this afternoon’s (Monday) flight to Australia with the majority of Team Wales’ athletics squad.
Selection for the games has been made sweeter by the fact Nesbitt has undergone two knee surgeries in the last 18 months, setbacks she believes have only made her stronger in her return to form this year.
“I’m really hoping that I can produce my best performance on the Gold Coast and use the Games as a springboard to progress even more,” added Nesbitt.
Nesbitt will compete in the women’s 10,000m final on April 9 at the Carrara Stadium having raced herself back to form over the past few months.
After finishing sixth at the BUCS Cross Country Championships on February 6, she then competed at the Armagh 3km Road Race before producing a fine performance at the Bourton 10km on February 25 where she ran a personal best time of 33 minutes and 24 seconds.
Chris Jones, national endurance manager, said: “Jenny is coming into great form, and has been pushing for selection having represented Great Britain at the World Student Games and European u23 Championships last year.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for one of our up and coming young athletes to compete on the world stage.”