Jess’ sporting journey began with a focus on football and beach lifeguarding in her hometown of Barry which laid the foundations for her interest in sport. She later began her athletics career with Barry Harriers before joining Cardiff Athletics Club at the age of 14, where she now competes in the 100m sprint. Alongside her training, Jess is studying Sports Science in Cardiff and dedicates her spare time to coaching the next generation of sprinters.
2025 marked a breakthrough year for Jess, who is rapidly becoming one of Wales’s most exciting young athletes. She secured a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the European U20 Championships in Helsinki as part of Team GB and claimed bronze in the 60m at the Junior British Indoor Championships. She also earned the Welsh Senior 60m title in Cardiff, won the U20 100m in Swansea, and captured silver in the 100m at the British U20 Championships in Birmingham. Her ninth-place finish in the 100m at the European U20 Championships further cemented her position as one of Wales’s most promising sprint talents.
The coming months will be pivotal for Jess as she competes at the Welsh Championships in Cardiff on 7th February and the British Championships in Birmingham shortly after, before continuing her development through the UK Futures Programme. Looking further ahead, she is targeting the European Under 23 Championships in Poland in 2027.
Jess’s journey strongly reflects Cooke & Arkwright’s commitment to excellence and developing future talent. As a Welsh athlete from Barry, her progression from grassroots sport to elite-level competition embodies the values that the firm also champions.
Jess Mantle said, “I’m really proud to be partnering with Cooke & Arkwright as their sponsored athlete. Having the support of a Welsh company that believes in me means a lot as I push towards the next stage of my career. I’m incredibly grateful for this partnership and look forward to the upcoming championships and sharing my progress along the way.”
Ben Bolton, Director at Cooke & Arkwright, said, “Jess represents everything we value as a firm – ambition, resilience and a commitment to supporting future talent in Wales. We are delighted to be supporting her as she builds on her impressive achievements. Her story is inspiring, and her drive both on the track and in her coaching work makes her an exceptional role model. We’re excited to support her journey and look forward to celebrating her continued success.”
Cooke & Arkwright will be sharing Jess' progress over the coming months. Follow Jess via her official World Athletics profile.
