NI Team Depart for Commonwealth Youth Games in Bahamas

Four Northern Ireland Athletes have departed for the Bahamas in preparation for the Commonwealth Youth Games which takes places in Nassau between 18^th and 23^rd of July.  Northern Ireland will be represented by 18 athletes across 5 sports: Aquatics, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling and Judo.

The Youth Games are a vital stepping stone for young athletes with previous competitors including; Olympic medallists Jessica Ennis-Hill, Beth Tweddle, Chad le Clos, Geraint Thomas and Michael Conlan.  Carl Frampton represented Northern Ireland at the Bendigo Youth Games in 2004 before going on to become a World Champion.   Sommer Lecky (coach: Niall Wilkinson), Davicia Patterson (Paul Magee) Anna McCauley (Maureen McCauley & Tom Reynolds) and Aaron Sexton (Roger Sexton) will look to capitalize on the excellent form and consistency they have shown this season.  The Track and Field action will take place in the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium home of the World Relays.

Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley AC) who has soared over 1.85m to achieve the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games consideration standard for high jump will be a strong medal contender.  Aaron Sexton (North Down) will relish stiff competition in the 200m having produced a personal best of 21.43 when powering his way to an Irish Schools 200m record in June.  In the 100m hurdles Anna McCauley (City of Lisburn AC) comes into the Games in peak form having secured a personal best performance of 13.95s just last weekend.   Davicia Patterson of Beechmount Harriers will complete the line up and hopes to reproduce the excellent race execution that brought her to a PB of 54.50s at the NI & Ulster Championships.

Laura Kerr (Athletics Team Leader) departed with the team yesterday and explained; “these four athletes have shown excellent progress since their selection and I would to thank their coaches and other support personnel for their detailed planning and engagement with the NI Commonwealth Games Council’s preparation activities.  All four athletes joined Athletics NI’s Youth Academy warm weather training camp in Portugal in April and I feel this has helped them focus on travel strategies to improve health and performance as they prepare to compete in hot & humid conditions. 

Athletics NI Youth Academy athletes have secured multiple NI records this season, selections for European U20, European U23, World & Junior World Paralympic Championships as well as Senior Commonwealth Games Standards. This is an exciting time for the next generation of NI athletes and I believe Sommer, Davicia, Anna & Aaron will rise to the challenge of the best Commonwealth Nations.  I very much look forward to supporting the athletes and their personal coaches in the Bahamas.”

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