Sale Harriers’ contribution to August’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games was impressive.
Athletes
The club had two world-class athletes – Jona Efoloko and Success Eduan – selected to represent England: Jona in the 4x100m, and Success in the 200m and 4x100m. Jona is a long-time club member and an established GB & NI team member whose gold medal success at World and European U20 and senior championships is extensive. He also won 4x100m gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. However, he withdrew before the Games to prioritise preparing for the European Athletics Championships, also at the Alexander Stadium, a few weeks earlier.
By contrast, Success Eduan made her Commonwealth Games debut. She had made her GB senior debut earlier in the year at the World Championships in Tokyo, where she helped Team GB win 4x100m gold, and Glasgow was her first appearance at a multi-sport Games. Still very much a young athlete at just 21 years of age and studying for a midwifery degree, she finished 7th and 5th in the 4×100 relay and regarded the Games as an invaluable experience.
Coaches
The club had multi-events coach Alex Wort selected onto the Team England Lead Coaching Staff – his third such selection in 12 months. Alex is the club’s multi-events coach at Sportcity, delivering quality coaching through his Venture Athletics Squad. He is also the Sprints and Speed Technical Coach for the Manchester Titans American football team. Outside athletics, he works freelance for Seiko, the world-renowned timing systems company, a role that has taken him around the world to major athletics events such as the World Indoor and Outdoor Championships and the Olympic Games.
Coach Matt Cullen also made an impact on the Games through three of his athletes, who all did very well. One represented Wales, one Scotland (recording a Scottish national record) and one Jersey – all three recording a number of PBs.
Others
Dr John Rogers was a central part of the Games medical team.
