GWENT’S brightest and best young athletes enjoyed a successful weekend in Wrexham, writes Andrew Penman.

The Queensway International Stadium hosted the Welsh Under-20 and Under-17 Athletics Championships with a host of Newport Harriers and Cwmbran Harriers winning medals in North Wales.

Newport’s Ellis Wharton won the men’s under-17s 200m in 23.03 seconds, with teammate Sam Rutherford fourth.

Cwmbran’s Thomas Arnold won the 400m and teammate Lewis Daniels was third in the 800m.

Newport’s Tom Jenkins was also third in the under-17s 1500m final and teammate Ieuan Jones was third in the shot, while Cwmbran’s Owen Murphy was second in the hammer final.

In the women’s under-17 competition Newport’s Amelia Reynolds won the 100m in 12.33 seconds ahead of teammate Sarah Gibbs in third.

Reynolds also won the 200m with Gibbs in fourth, while Cwmbran pair Eve Williams and Gabrielle Fakande came first and third in the 300m.

Cwmbran’s Isobel Parry-Jones was second in the 800m and Millicent Fakande, also of Cwmbran, was third in the long jump.

In the men’s under-20 competition Newport’s Jake Dawkins was third in the 100m final and second in the 200m.

Teammate Sebastien Blanch was fourth in the 200m and won the 400m final, while Kyle Arnold triumphed in the 110m hurdles and the long jump final.

Cwmbran’s Sam Hughes was second in the long jump and first in the triple jump.

Madeline Baker of Newport was third in the women’s under-20 800m final, while teammate Melissa Arthur won the long jump and finished third in the javelin.