The performance of the championships came from u17 400m runner Tom Miller. After an excellent season as a first year u17, which included a silver in the AAA Indoor and bronze in the AAA Outdoors and leading the 400m rankings in Wales with a 49.12, much was expected of Tom this year. Breezing through the heats in 51.33 Tom went on to run 49.66s in the final, a time fast enough to win both the senior and U20 titles up for grabs that day and in doing so became the first u17 to break 50 seconds this year in the UK.
During the competition many a championship record was broken. In the senior women's triple jump Sally Peake broke the old record by 28cm with a 12.28m jump. As a first year under 13 Rachel Johncock beat the 200m record in a time of 28.42. Since then she has improved her time and in the final ran a 27.86, the first u13 to go sub 28 in the 200m, to win and break the previous CBP. Also the girls u15 300m benchmark was slashed by 2.2 seconds by Brigid Eades Also a new CBP in the ladies u17 300m was recorded by Hannah Jones of Carmarthen AC in a time of 41.85, beating Gail Lippet by only 0.01 of a second. Hannah was top ranked for the u15 300m last year and hopes to bring her success to u17 level. A bumper championships for young female athletes was rounded off in style by Leah Dixon in the u17 1500m who in winning became the first female u17 to go sub 5 minutes indoors over 1500m.
Only two male championship records fell on the first day of compition. Young Swansea athlete Evan Jenkins broke the u13 boys 60m record by running 8.15, eclipsing the old record by nearly 0.3 and the rest of the field by 0.8 seconds. Relatively unknown u15 sprint hurdler Ben Cleary beat the CBP by running 8.79s for the 60m hurdles. Yet more success for u13 athlete Evan Jenkins by breaking the 200m record on Sunday in a time of 26.89, beating the old record of 28.17.
The u20 60m title went to Wyn Roberts, beating first year u20 Lloyd Reffel and 2nd year Gareth Breeze. Wyn didn't go for the double in the 200m so it was left for Reffel and Breeze to battle it out. After a sub 22 clocking in the outdoor season for Lloyd Reffel last year, he was hot favourite to win and he didn't disappoint, clocking a 22.68 in the final with Breeze taking Silver.
The U17 boys 60m on Saturday went to Chris Howe won in 7.15 with Pre race favourite Thomas Bradbury clocking 7.17 for Silver. Bradbury gained revenge in the 200m however stopping the clock at 22.77 in the final, beating Howe who recorded 23.04.
Adebowale Ademuyewo took the senior men's 60m title in 6.87 from Marc Ritchie and Seriashe Childs. Fabian Collymore could only manage 4th in 7.07, but later went on the claim 2nd in the 400m, running 50.77 behind Bruce Tasker in 49.74.
After much talk that Carmarthen AC was the most successful club in Wales, Cardiff AAC led the medal tables with 62 medal (20 golds,24 silver and 18 bronze) and Carmarthen in second with 50 medals (17 gold, 20 silver and 13 bronze).
(for full results go to http://www.welshathletics.org/results/2006...hips%202006.xls)
Written By: Gareth Sutcliffe