A PENARTH school girl recently represented Welsh schools in an indoor athletics event.

Taiya Jones who is in year 12 at Stanwell School recently returned from Scotland where she competed for Welsh Schools in the Indoor Combined Events International in Glasgow which was held on November 10

Selection for the event was based on four athletes achieving the highest points total in the WA/WASS Indoor Combined Events Championships held at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cyncoed, Cardiff on October 7.

The indoor Pentathlon is a combined track and field event in which each athlete competes in five separate events over one day, 60m hurdles, shot put, long jump, high jump and 800m.

The distance or time for each event is converted to points via scoring tables, with the overall ranking determined by total points.

Taiya had an exceptional competition producing personal bests across all five events to take the U18 girls Welsh title and also set a new Championship record of 3418 points.

The successful team of four - Taiya Jones (Stanwell school), Grace Morgan (Radyr Comprehensive), Emily Thomas (Glamorgan Valleys), Emilie Davies (south east Wales) made the long journey to the Commonwealth Emirates Arena in Glasgow on November 10 to represent Welsh Schools in the International Schools Combined Events Championships competing against teams from England, Scotland and Ireland.

Taiya and the other girls found themselves in an unbelievably high scorning competition. Taiya who was competing in the event for the fourth and last time was the spearhead of the Welsh quartet who packed really well finishing in positions seventh to 10th overall and all achieving over 3200 points - the first time this has happened for team Wales. Taiya finished first for team Wales with a score of 3309 points, followed by Emilie 3290, Grace 3263 and Emily 3211.

In a hard fought competition the Welsh team eventually secured the bronze medal narrowly missing out on silver to Ireland and behind the overall winners England who set a new meeting best. A fantastic achievement for the four girls involved.

There’ll be no rest for Taiya who will continue to train hard over the festive period with her sights firmly set on the forthcoming England and Welsh Athletics Combined Events Championships being held in Sheffield on January 6.

Taiya’s ultimate goal is to represent Wales in Heptathlon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and we wish her all the success in the future.