Keiran Jones Is Firmly In The Driving Seat As Welsh Para Stars Take Centre Stage

By Owen Morgan

The introduction of seated shot put and discus competitions at last weekend’s Welsh Athletics Championships was described as a “beautiful thing to see” by athlete Keiran Jones.

The F34 thrower, who is ranked number one in the UK, was delighted to be competing on the same timetable as able-bodied athletes at the nation’s senior outdoor championships.

The event has long seen the likes of Paralympians Aled Davies, Hollie Arnold and Olivia Breen taking part, but Sunday also saw athletes taking part in the sitting throws after the shot put had been included in the indoor championships earlier this year.

And Jones was delighted to be one of almost a thousand competitors taking part in the weekend’s events.

“Hopefully this will be the first of many more to come,” said Jones, a former Welsh wheelchair basketball international.

“Obviously we’ve competed outdoors before, but not at the Welsh Athletics Championships.

“Normally, as para athletes, we have our own disability champs, so it’s been great to see able bodied athletes competing here as well. It’s a really beautiful thing to see.

“It makes you feel involved, definitely. The inclusion side of things has just skyrocketed.