Amy Foster handed Gold Coast ticket (official press release from Athletics NI):
Athletics Northern Ireland is very pleased to learn that Amy Foster has been added to the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games athletics team following the withdrawal of an athlete from another sport.
The 29-year-old sprinter, who recently completed at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, will take part in the 100 and 200 metres at Gold Coast 2018.
Athletics NI originally nominated Amy for selection to the Games along with 14 other athletes in October 2017.
With limited places available, and given the pressure on numbers across the various sports, the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council initially selected only the first 11 of the Athletics nominations, leaving Amy as one of four athletes to miss out.
Given the recent withdrawal, and in accordance with the nomination policy, Athletics NI have worked on Amy’s behalf to ensure she was strongly considered as the deserving replacement.
Director of Athletics, Jackie Newton, said: “We are delighted that the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council have added Amy to the team. And look forward to her continuing the outstanding form that has seen her break the Irish indoor 60 metres record and represent Ireland in the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham last weekend.”
Amy commented: “I am absolutely delighted to be selected for Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. I am very thankful for the support I have received from Athletics NI and the effort that has been made between Athletics NI and the NICGC to include me in the team. I will now look forward to competing in my third Commonwealth Games.”
Amy will depart with the main team on 20 March to travel to the holding camp in Somerset College, Gold Coast, with the athletics action at the Carrara Stadium beginning on 8 April.
The full 13-strong athletics squad is as follows:
Team Member Event Coach
Ciara Mageean 800m & 1500m Steve Vernon
Dempsey McGuigan Hammer John Smith
Kate O’Connor Heptathlon Kerr, McMullen, O’Connor, Reynolds
Sommer Lecky High Jump Niall Wilkinson
Adam Kirk-Smith 3000m Steeplechase Tomaz Plibersek
Leon Reid 200m James Hillier
Adam McMullen Long Jump Alan Kennedy
Ben Reynolds 110mH Tom Reynolds
Emma Mitchell 5000m & 10,000m Eamonn Christie
Paul Pollock Marathon Andy Hobdell
Kevin Seaward Marathon Andy Hobdell
Jack Agnew T54 1500m Heather Ardis
Amy Foster 100m & 200m David Reid