Hannah Brier had already run the Commonwealth B standard of 23.07 before the deadline, but Team Wales policy requires athletes to beat — not just match — that mark for selection.

The Swansea Harrier, who also holds the Welsh 100m record, underlined her status as the fastest Welsh woman of all time by breaking the national 200m record set by Michelle Scutt in 1982.

“It’s very difficult for us Welsh athletes because we almost have to come out with our absolute A-game in April or May which is crazy when the championships are in August,” she told BBC Sport Wales. “The standards are tough but relatively fair, but how early the deadlines are set needs to be looked at.”

“It makes me think if I’m running these times now in May, what on earth am I going to be running in August because it’s only up from here.”

Brier was just 16 years old when she competed at her first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and was hoping to compete in the same city for what she expects to be her last.

“To be the shape that I’m in now, knowing that I [could] go there gunning for a medal, in my last Commonwealth Games, is really gutting,” she said. “I said four years ago [in Birmingham] that was going to be my last time and here I am running Welsh records and European standards.”

James Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Welsh Athletics, described the situation as “hugely frustrating” for Brier. “We did raise this possibility last March with Team Wales that the required deadline for nomination was extremely early in the track and field season. We had to align our timelines for nomination to the Team Wales requirements,” he said.

“A number of athletes throughout have commented on the additional time afforded to athletes from Scotland and England to achieve the required performances — had it been consistent throughout the UK, then we would be having a very different discussion.”

Team Wales chair Gareth Davies defended the policy, declining to address Brier’s case directly. “We do not comment on individual cases,” he said. “Athletes have completed their nomination processes with their respective sports, and nominations were submitted to Commonwealth Games Wales on Monday this week. The three week selection process starts on Monday and our full process is published on our website for full transparency.”

Source: Wales’ fastest woman misses Commonwealth Games over selection deadline policy