Athletics: Guest has athletic versatility

Jan 16 2008 by Anthony Woolford, South Wales Echo

BRIDGEND’S David Guest is not the only sporting talent in the family.

Younger brother Stephen showed just that last weekend competing in the Junior Welsh Championships at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cardiff.

While David, a combined eventer, has just been recruited onto National Lottery funding and is supported by UK Athletics, Stephen has also been impressing the powers that be.

In the under-15 pole vault he cleared 3.25m and smashed the existing indoor record.

The Bridgend AC star also took top honours in the high jump, conquering a height of 1.66m.

Fellow Bridgend athlete and pole vaulter Rhiannydd Llewellyn also delivered a notable triumph.

Setting a new Championship best performance, she was able to clear 3m.

In total, the event saw 12 new Championship best performances and another two equalled.

Wrexham AC certainly had its fair share of champions. Kieran Cooper rewrote the record books, setting a new indoor standard.

The under-13 long jumper achieved a new indoor record with 4.92m.

Wrexham’s Hannah Thomas travelled home with two gold medals to add to the cabinet.

She was victorious in the under-17s 60m and went on to win the high jump, equalling the Championship best performance with 1.60m.

Benytta Doman lived up to her reputation, claiming her fourth consecutive title in the 800m. At under-17 level, the Cwmbran Harrier set a new indoor record with 2:16.74. And she was not the only under-17 to impress.

Cardiff pole vaulter Elinor Lewis equalled the indoor record and championship best performance with 3.40m. Sharing the Cardiff plaudits is Benjamin Clearly who grabbed a new Championship best performance and defended last year’s title with glory in the under-17 60m hurdles.

Cardiff’s Chris Howe continued his strong run of form, winning gold in both the under-20 60m and 200m as well as setting new Championship best performance.

Triple jumper Alex Ezechi-Obiako also gave cause for Cardiff to celebrate, smashing the previous Championship best performance with 13.80m.

Meanwhile, Jessica Abraham (Cardiff) was also on form.

She continued the Championship’s success in the pole vault, smashing the best performance after clearing 3.52m in the under-20 competition.

Swansea Harrier Sarah Dacey – the 16-year-old Skewen athlete – who last year won the under-17 long jump was once again on winning form, this time at under-20 level.

echo.sport@mediawales.co.uk