A DEESIDE athlete will be testing herself against some of the best competitors in the world this summer.

Amber Simpson is one of 22 athletes chosen to represent Team Wales at this year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The Deeside Athletics Club member, who is 23, will wear the red vest in the hammer.

From being bullied to landing a scholarship offer in Memphis in the United States to being selected to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games, Simpson now wants to be a role model for young women.

“I feel like a lot of people quit before they even try," she said.

"That’s especially the case when people are picking on you or making fun of the way you look.

"It can be so hard to stay driven in those sorts of situations.

"I want to help empower other women to know they can rise above the physical and emotional abuse from bullying.”

Bangor's Osian Jones, who competes for Liverpool Harriers, has also been selected in the hammer for Team Wales.

Welsh Athletics national coach, Chris Jones said: “Welsh athletes faced the toughest ever selection criteria for Birmingham 2022, so I am delighted to confirm 22 athletes will be joining Team Wales from athletics.

“I am proud that the work and dedication of the whole team has been recognised by this selection and I am excited to see how the athletes perform.

"Within the team we have a great mix of experienced athletes who will be returning for their second and third Commonwealth Games combined with 11 athletes who will be making their debuts at Birmingham."

The Birmingham Games will run from July 27 until August 7.

Wrexham’s Thomas Williams won the under-15 boys’ hammer at the All Ireland schools track-and-field championships in Tullamore with his 57.51 metre throw.

Closer to home at the Trafford AC open meeting in Stretford and two personal bests saw Bethan Roberts victorious in the U15 girls’ 600-metres (1-57.75) and 150-metres (24.43).

She was also second in the long jump, with a personal best of 1-59.83 in the U11 boys’ 600-metres giving victory to Spencer Jones, who was runner-up in the 150m.

In the same age category, Freddie Cunningham achieved personal bests for first in both the 75m (11.59) and 150m (24.85), and a best mark of 2-46,82 saw Sophie Forgrave triumph in the U13 girls’ 800m.

Annabelle Jones was also competing and she was first in the U13 girls’ 1200m (4-32.8) at the Cheshire Track and Field League meeting in Crewe.

She was also second in the shot (6.50m) and in the same age class, Sophie Forgrave came second in the 200m (31.8).

In the U11 girls’ section, Sienna Pimperel won the javelin (11.20m) and was a runner-up in the 4x100m (1-08.8), while Bethan Roberts was second in the 150m (24.5), 600m (2-05.9) and long jump (3.06m).

Other Wrexham members in this class were Katie McGlynn and Georgia Curran, and in the U11 boys’ section Spencer Jones took third in the javelin (10.70m) and Freddie Cunningham claimed second in the long jump (3.50m), with Nelson Williams also impressing.

Evan McGlynn (second in long jump) and Noah Thomas (third in javelin), competed in the U13 boys’ section and among the senior men were Neil Edwards (second in long jump, third in shot), Mike Robbins (second in 3000m) and Oliver Edwards (second in 200m).

Robbins took the first M55 prize at the Tatton Park 10k (15th in 41.20) and over at the Rodneys Pillar Fell Race at Criggion were Neil Bull (86th in 38.19) and Karen Owens (41.32) who was 88th overall and the second W50.

Wrexham AAC racers in the field at the Ellesmere Port parkrun were Richard Westwood (13th in 22.18) and Alex Edwards (50th in 29.42), with a trio from the club racing the Erddig parkrun.

They were Alan Williams (49th in 26.32), Erin Smith (52nd in 26.53) and Chris Evans (74th in 27.46).

There were two top-three runners in the Alyn Waters junior parkrun, with Grace Hughes the runner-up in 9.55 and Evie Hughes third in 10.132.

This Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12 sees the Welsh senior and U15 Track and Field Championships in Cardiff, while on Sunday, Wrexham will host the next Northern Senior League meeting (11am).