IEUAN Thomas led Gwent’s medal charge at the Welsh Indoor Athletics Championships in Cardiff as the steeplechaser, who is off to this year’s Commonwealth Games, struck 1500m gold.

Illness almost forced the Pontypool ace to withdraw from the event, but the 28-year-old’s decision to run paid off with his time of three minutes 53.89 seconds giving him the title.

Swansea’s Jonathan Hopkins, who will run alongside Thomas on the Gold Coast in April, finished third, while clubmate Jonathan Tobin took silver.

In a tactical race, Cardiff AAC athlete Thomas was able to show real pace over the last lap to burst away from the field.

“That was great,” he said. “I’ve not been well all week and was unsure whether to run, so coming away with the victory in an event unfamiliar to me was a real bonus.”

Remi Adebiyi, of Newport Harriers, came home in fourth place.

Meanwhile, Cwmbran Harriers’ Macey Jones stormed to victory in the under-20 triple jump, winning by nearly a metre.

And she saved her best for last, with the teenager leaping to 11.51 metres to underline her dominance.

A time of 1:59.03mins gave Newport Harriers’ Owen Locke the under-20 800m crown, and there were golds for clubmates Gwennan Lewis (under-20 shot put), Dylan Bevan (under-17 shot put) and, pictured below, Amy Jenkins (under-17 high jump).

South Wales Argus:

Newport’s Kyle Arnold and Daniel Cork claimed bronzes at senior level, the former in the 60m hurdles, the latter in the shot put.

Zoe Nash clocked 7.74secs to win 60m silver for Newport, while Blackwood’s Cardiff Archers star Caitlyn Mapps leapt 5.34m for long jump bronze – both were in the senior age group.

Jake Seville, also of the Newport club, was third in the under-17 800m, and Blaenau Gwent AC’s Emilie Davies and Cwmbran Harriers’ Sophie Pope shared second place in the under-17 high jump.

Time trials were held for the 1500m in the under-13 and under-15 age groups.

Newport’s Elin Griffiths was third fastest in the under-15 girls’ event, and Blaenau Gwent duo Chloe Hale and Ellie Morris were first and third respectively at under-13 level.

With help from Mark Roche and new coach Hannah Glastonbury, Newport Harriers saw three of their four junior 4x200m relay teams make finals to be held on March 4.

The under-13 girls quartet of Tiwaah Boateng, Nia Parry, Honey Tovey and Olivia Gillespie finished second in their qualifying heat.

Erika Jarrett, Olivia Reid, Antonia Dawes and Isabel Haden won the under-15 girls’ heat, while male compatriots Kelechi Maduako, Spencer Daniels, Efan Bentall and Joseph Wayte did likewise.

Also qualifying for the finals were the Rhymney Valley under-13 boys’ foursome of William Parry, Evan Lougher, Joshua Roberts and Aneurin Paterson.