MEDALS came thick and fast for Gwent youngsters taking part in the Welsh Athletics Junior Championships at Wrexham’s Queensway Stadium.

Blackwood star Caitlyn Mapps, Newport Harriers ace Zoe Nash and Rhymney Valley AC duo Iwan Rees and Toks Akanbi-Mortimer led the way with two golds each.

Islwyn High School pupil Mapps clocked 12.89 seconds into a strong headwind to claim the under-15 girls’ 100m title, before a leap of 5.38 metres secured another first in the long jump.

Nash was the queen of the sprints in the under-20 women’s age group, winning both the 100m and 200m – clubmate Sarah Gibbs claimed third in the former.

Newport’s Armani Williams (under-17 women’s 300m), Gwennan Lewis (under-17 women’s shot), Macey Morris (under-15 girls’ 300m) and Emily Fry (under-13 girls’ high jump) also triumphed.

Rhymney’s Rees was on song too, coming out on top in the under-15 boys’ high jump and 80m hurdles, while he finished third in the long jump.

Akanbi-Mortimer matched clubmate Rees with under-13 boys’ 75m hurdles and discus golds, and he leapt to second place in the long jump and landed shot put bronze.

Another Rhymney Valley athlete, Ben Mattey, was first home in the under-15 boys’ 300m, adding that to his silver in the 200m.

Not to be outdone, Blaenau Gwent AC’s Phoebe Brown threw 35.98m to clinch first prize in the under-17 women’s javelin.

Cwmbran Harriers were successful as well with Sophie Pope second and third in the under-17 women’s long jump and high jump respectively.

And there were plenty more silver and bronze medals for Newport Harriers, who have been celebrating after Kellen Jones, Charlotte Mitchell, Hannah Morgan, Isabel Davies and Tyler Williams were chosen to take part in the Queen’s Baton Relay ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, silvers in Wrexham went to Daniel Snelling (under-20 men’s 400m), Elinor Kenward (under-17 women’s 80m hurdles), Connor Richards (under-17 men’s 800m), Isabel Davies (under-17 women’s 200m), Dylan Bevan (under-17 men’s shot put) and Amelia Fettis (under-13 girls’ shot put).

Bronzes were claimed by Ben Davies (under-17 men’s 400m hurdles), Isabel Davies (under-17 women’s 100m), Jackson Mountford (under-17 men’s 300m), Catrin Phillips (under-17 women’s 800m), Amy Jenkins (under-15 girls’ high jump) and Morgan Keen-Williams (under-13 boys’ javelin and discus).

Elsewhere, Newport’s Mica Moore finished fifth in the women’s 100m at the annual Manchester International meeting.

Moore was also a member of the Welsh women’s 4x100m relay team which did not finish their race.