With less than nine months to go until the next Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man (7-13 September 2011), Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) and scottishathletics have jointly agreed and published the athletics selection policy. This includes the performance standards to be reached for athletes to be eligible for nomination for Youth Team Scotland.

Of the 43 places allocated to Scotland for the Youth Games, six will be for athletics although more may be available should other countries not take up their allocation. Events included in the three day track and field programme are: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 2000m Steeple Chase, 110m hurdles (M), 100m hurdles (W), 400m hurdles, 10km walk (M), 5km walk (W), 4 x 100m relay, high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin and hammer. There will be a maximum of two entries per event, and one entry per relay. The eligible age category for athletics is the IAAF’s Youth age category: boys and girls 16 – 17 years of age (athletes born in 1994 & 1995).

For athletics the selection period will run from 1 April to 31 July 2011. Athletes seeking selection must compete in either Scottish U18 or U20 outdoor Track & Field Championships (30/31 July 2011) and the UK U20 Championships (25/26 June 2011), unless there is a very good reason not to. An athlete finishing first placed eligible Scot in the Scottish Outdoor U18/U20 Championships will be nominated for selection providing they have achieved the minimum nomination standard. Where more than two athletes attain the nomination standard for the same event, head-to-head results and championship performances will be considered.

Where more athletes achieve the standard than there are overall places available, scottishathletics will nominate athletes in order of priority, based on a range of published criteria including a performance points system which will consider performances at World Youth Championships (6 – 10 July 2011), UK U20 Championships (25 – 26 June 2011) and the Scottish U18/U20 Championships (30 – 31 July 2011).

Vicky Strange, General Team Manager for Youth Team Scotland at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games said: “With the start of the athletics season fast approaching, we are delighted to be able to publish the performance standards required to be considered for Youth Team Scotland in the Isle of Man. This will be a great development opportunity for these young athletes and for most of them it will be their first taste of a multi-sport international competition.

“We have a great track record of athletes who are successful in the Youth Games going on to represent Team Scotland in the main Games and I am sure this year will be no exception. We certainly expect to see some of them compete in Glasgow in 2014, with others making it in 2018 and beyond.”

Darren Ritchie, Athletics Team Leader for 2011 said: “The Commonwealth Youth Games is a great opportunity for our developing athletes to experience a multi-sport competition. I look forward to seeing the athletes compete through the season, rising to the challenge with the aim to put on a Scotland vest and compete against the other Commonwealth nations in 232 days time.”

2011 Commonwealth Youth Games Performance Standards

Men                                        Event                                      Women

(Time/Distance)                                                                   (Time/Distance)

10.70                                      100m                                      12.05

21.80                                      200m                                      24.80

48.20                                      400m                                      56.10

1:52.90                                  800m                                        2:10.10

3:50.90                                  1500m                                      4:26.40

8:30.00                                  3000m                                      9:48.00

6:05.00                                  2000m S/C                                6:55.00

14.45                                      110mH/100mH                         14.75

53.00                                      400mH                                     61.90

46:05.00                                  10k/5k Walk                            24:15.00

6.90                                        Long Jump                               5.75

14.90                                      Triple Jump                              12.50

2.05                                        High Jump                               1.70

4.50                                        Pole Vault                                3.75

17.25                                      Shot Put                                 13.50

50.50                                      Discus Throw                          42.00

62.00                                      Hammer Throw                        49.00

65.00                                      Javelin Throw                           42.00

N/A                                         4X100m                                  N/A

Athletics is the first of the seven sports which will participate in the 2011 Youth Games to have its selection standards confirmed, with the remainder expected to be in place by the end of the month. Full details of all selection policies and associated performance standards will be available on the CGS website.