27th September 2013

Welsh Athletics Announce Partnership With World Athletics Center

27 September 2013

Welsh Athletics is delighted to announce an exciting one-year partnership with the World Athletics Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Home to athletes including Olympic 110mh champion and world record holder Aries Merritt (USA) and 2008 Olympic champion Steve Hooker (Aus), the World Athletics Center is a world-leading training centre for athletes and coaches.

The partnership, beginning in November, will see the World Athletics Center aiding in the preparation of Welsh track and field athletes and coaches in their bid for success at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

World Athletics Center coaches will travel to Wales to deliver coach development workshops and athlete development clinics on behalf of Welsh Athletics and – in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games – Welsh Athletics will send groups of athletes and coaches to the main WAC base in Phoenix for extended training camps at various points throughout the training year.

Welsh Athletics National Performance Coach Scott Simpson: “On behalf of everyone at Welsh Athletics, I can only say how truly delighted we are to be embarking on such an innovative and novel partnership with World Athletics Center.

“This enterprise will offer Welsh coaches and athletes access to some of the best Track and Field minds in the world.

“The staff at World Athletics Centre offer cutting edge insight into the world of performance sport and the opportunity for identified individuals in Wales to spend time with them, on both sides of the Atlantic, is extremely exciting.

“Our objective at Welsh Athletics is “preparing coaches and athletes to represent Wales and win Commonwealth Games medals” – and this latest step couldn’t be more aligned with supporting this philosophy.  I am certain that the environment created by the world-leading coaches and athletes based at the World Athletics Center will provide the perfect setting for the further development of Wales’ best coaches and athletes.”

World Athletics Center CEO John Godina can’t wait to get started: "The World Athletics Center is excited to partner with Welsh Athletics for the 2013-2014 season. We look forward to working with the athletes and coaches to maximize their performance through training camps at our home base in Arizona and Coaches’ Education events in Wales.

“Providing athletes, coaches and Federations with premium training systems and a world-class environment is what the World Athletics Center is all about. We are thrilled that Welsh Athletics will be joining us for the season."

Welsh coaches and athletes will be the latest to benefit from the world-leading coaching team in Phoenix. Consistent hot temperatures and world-class facilities continue to draw athletes from around the globe to the Arizona WAC base.