IEUAN Thomas is a big step closer to fulfilling a lifetime’s ambition after significantly boosting his chances of competing for Wales at the Commonwealth Games.

The 27-year-old from Pontypool missed out on selection when Glasgow hosted the event in 2014 but looks set to make up for that disappointment in Australia next April.

Having already run the Welsh Athletics 3000m steeplechase ‘A’ standard in his first race of the season, Thomas repeated the feat during the prestigious IFAM competition in Belgium.

Not making the Welsh team three years ago provided Thomas with the motivation to be on the plane to the Gold Coast in 2018.

And training at high altitude in the USA has given him the ideal platform for some record-breaking performances in his bid to represent Wales down under.

“I missed the ‘A’ standard for Glasgow by about two seconds and didn’t make the team,” he said.

“It was tough to take but also gave me the motivation to improve and put that right for Australia.

“The Commonwealth Games are really special because it’s the only major championship where you get to compete for Wales.

“The World Championships and Olympic Games are obviously huge events and it would be fantastic to compete for Great Britain at those.

“But, first and foremost, I consider myself Welsh and then British, so it would be just as special, if not more, to represent Wales.”

Speaking about his work across the Atlantic Ocean, he added: “I did my postgraduate studies in Colorado where I was training at more than 7,500 feet above sea level.

“I went back out there earlier this year before going to race in California.

“Where I was in Colorado was perfect for running because there’s not much else to do and that really helps you to focus.

“Also, because there is less oxygen in the air it makes your body work harder to recover after training.

“Since being back in the UK I’ve used altitude tents quite a lot to try and replicate the conditions, and I’ve seen some great results from using those.

“The whole point of going to California was to try and run the time for the Commonwealth Games, and I did it in my first race.

“I did it again in Belgium so now my fingers are crossed I will be in the Wales team when it is announced early next year.”

Ranked third in the UK and sixth in Europe, Thomas, who has lowered his perso-nal best by seven seconds this year, also has August’s World Championships in his sights.

While the ‘A’ standard for the Gold Coast is eight minutes 35 seconds, the qualifying mark for the worlds is three seconds quicker.

But with personal bests this year over 3000m and 1500m, Thomas, the first Welshman to run a sub-four-minute mile indoors in Wales, certainly can’t be ruled out of contention.

Previously trained by Dave Lewis at Cwmbran Harriers, the Cardiff AAC star, whose coach is now James Thie, will run the 1500m at the Welsh Championships this Saturday.