By Owen Morgan
The rising stars of Welsh athletics clinched victory over their English and schools counterparts at the Under-20 Outdoor International Meeting in Cardiff.
Wales Under-20s took on England North, England South, England Midlands and a Welsh Schools Under-20 team at Cardiff International Sports Stadium in midweek.
After an exciting and entertaining evening of high quality athletics, the final standings were: Wales – 132 points; England South – 125; England Midlands – 97; England North- 95; Welsh schools – 61.
Leading the way, individually, for the Welsh Under-20 team was James Tomlinson, whose impressive victory in the men’s discus earned him the male athlete of the match award.
Tomlinson, who is one of five Welsh juniors heading for the Bahamas to take part in the Youth Commonwealth Games next week, won the competition with a throw of 57.96 metres.
The Pembrokeshire athlete wasn’t entirely satisfied with his performance despite finishing almost 12-and-a-half metres ahead of his nearest rival:
He said: “I had a good warm-up throw and I tried chasing it. It’s a vicious circle, so it was my fault I didn’t stay technical.
“Apart from that I enjoyed the competition, it was a good atmosphere today, nice and warm, dead wind, you couldn’t ask for any better conditions. I’m looking forward to next week now and the Youth Commonwealth games and see what I can do there.”
Another Bahamas-bound Welsh athlete on form at Wednesday’s international was Sarah Omoregie. The younger sister of sprint hurdler David, who himself is off to the London World Athletics Championships next month, won the women’s shot put with an effort of 15.46 metres.
Sarah said afterwards: “It wasn’t the distance I wanted but I’m still happy to come away with the win. It’s been a hard couple of weeks so I’m just looking forward to going to the Bahamas for the Youth Commonwealth Games and trying to throw well there.
“I’m so excited it’s my first proper international competition and hopefully I’ll do well out there. I want to come away with a medal, hopefully. I’m ranked second going in so a medal would be really good.”
A third standout Welsh performance from an athlete who will soon be representing his country on foreign soil, came from Kristian Jones, of Wales Under 20, who stormed to victory in the men’s 100m.
Jones claimed maximum points for the Welsh team with a time of 10.84. Afterwards he said: “It was a great race to be fair, not sure about the time, but I had to beat what was in front of me. I’m feeling good about going into next week and the European Junior Championships in Grosseto, my first major championships in a GB junior team.”
Although guest athlete Craig Murch, of Rugby and Northampton, claimed victory in the men’s hammer with a big third round throw of 68.54 metres, Gloucester AC athlete Jonathan James clinched maximum points for Wales Under 20 in the international match with a sixth round throw of 63.83 metres.
There were plenty more Welsh success stories on the night.
Carys Parry, of Rhondda AC, won the overall women’s hammer competition with a third round throw of 65.01 metres. While in the international match, it was a close battle between Amber Simpson, of Wales, and Katie Lambert, of England Midlands, but the points went to Simpson after a big fifth round effort of 54.84 metres.
Osaze Aghedo, of Wales Under 20, was the winner in the men’s triple jump with a final sixth round jump of 14.97 metres.
He said: “It feels good to win. Same as last year, a bit better though because I think last year I won with 14.50m and this year it’s 14.97m, so it’s a big improvement.”
In the men’s 400m hurdles, Paul Bennett, of Cardiff AAC, was the overall race winner with a time of 52.61. Tyri Donovan took the points for England South in the international fixture with a time of 53.69.
The women’s race over the hurdles saw Lauren Williams, of Wales under 20, take the win going agonisingly close to breaking 60 seconds with a time of 60.01.
Lauren said: “It was a really good race this evening, I was hoping to go sub-60 seconds. Not quite there, but nevertheless just really pleased with the win. The season’s going really well, that was only my fifth race because of exams, but over the moon with the win.”
There was more Welsh success in the women’s 1500m where Cari Hughes won in a time of 4:28.24. Cari said: “It was a really good race, quite a fast pace from the start, which suited me well, I really enjoyed it. I love racing at Leckwith, it’s such a good track and good to win in front of a home crowd.”
Nicholas Young, representing Wales Under 20s, enjoyed a memorable evening in the men’s shot put, enjoying a win with a huge personal best of 15.14 metres. A delighted Nicholas said: “I got a PB by almost over a metre, so it was quite an experience to do that in a competition. It was quite unexpected, but I did it twice so it’s not a fluke.”
Courtney Macguire of Edinburgh AC was the overall winner in the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 3.85 metres. But in the international match there was a remarkable comeback from injury by Carys Jones, of Welsh Schools, who took full points for her team with a height of 3.35 metres.
A delighted Carys said: “I was quite happy with my performance, it was a season’s best. I’ve just come back from a year out with stress fracture in my back, so I’m happy with that.”
Nathan James of Wales took the win in the men’s javelin with a third round throw of 62.46 metres. He said: “Really happy with that, good conditions and a good atmosphere to throw in. I was hoping to get a PB and came close. I’ve got the British League on Saturday in Bedford and hopefully I can get a PB there.”
Laura Wittingham, of Sale Harriers, was overall winner in the women’s javelin with an impressive first round throw of 50.37 metres, but it was recent Welsh Senior Champion Bethan Rees who clinched the international fixture with 46.13 metres.
Bethan said: “The conditions were quite nice and I was pleased to throw 46 metres, but it wasn’t quite as far as I was hoping. At the British Championships I came fourth with 49 metres which was a PB for me. The season’s going well and I’m hoping to break the 50 metre barrier before the end of it.”
Rebecca Chapman continued her fine form, which saw her break the Welsh long jump record at the recent British Championships, by winning the overall women’s long jump competition with 6.12 metres. Josie Oliarnyk of England Midlands was the winner of the international match.
In the final races of the international match, England South and Wales battled it out in the men’s 4x100m relay, with the visitors emerging victorious by just 0.36 seconds. Meanwhile, Amy Odunaiya brought home the Welsh Senior Women’s team for victory in the 4x100m relay. England North were victorious in the international match, edging out their opponents by nearly a full second.
Wednesday night’s event also incorporated the Welsh 3,000m Championships. In the Under 15 boys and girls races James Jones, of Deeside AAC, took the win in the boy’s event in a time of 9:09.22 and for the girls Rheagan Edwards made it a double for the Deeside club in a time of 10:39.68.
Michael Ward was the winner of the senior men’s 3000m Welsh Championships with a time of 9:03.32. The Cardiff AAC athlete sat in for the majority of the race before making a big kick for home with 1000 metres left.
The enthusiastic crowd also enjoyed two exciting junior 4×100 metre races. The boys Under-13 event was won by Cardiff Archers in a time of 53.54, while the club’s girls sealed the double in the Under-15 race winning in a time of 51.21. The full results can be found on the Welsh Athletics website.