Record-breaker Brier won't be at Commonwealths

WALES’ record-breaking sprinter says it is “crazy” the nation’s selection rules mean she cannot compete at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

- Hannah Brier

Hannah Brier

Hannah Brier broke a 44-year national record in running 22.79 seconds for the 200m in London on Monday.

But that time - fast enough to have won bronze at the last Games - was eight days late of the Team Wales deadline for selection of 17 May.

That date is three weeks before that of Team Scotland and four weeks before Team England hopefuls need to qualify.

Brier, 28, said she is devastated to miss what is likely to be her last Games, while Welsh Athletics - the sports governing body - said it had raised concerns in March that the deadline was “extremely early” for track and field athletes.

In a statement Team Wales said they would not comment on individual cases, adding that their full selection process is published on their website “for full transparency”.

Brier had already run the Commonwealth B standard of 23.07 before the deadline but Team Wales policy is that athletes beat - not just match - that mark for selection.