Michael Jenkins Faces Paralympic Snub . . . But He Will Keep On Throwing

By Owen Morgan

Michael Jenkins rounded off the “most intense” season of his burgeoning career at the Welsh Athletics Under-20 International match in Cardiff last weekend.

The brilliant 19-year-old burst onto the global stage in July by winning an F38 shot put silver medal on his World Para Athletics Championships debut in Paris.

After a double medal winning performance for Wales in the shot put and discus on Saturday, Jenkins reflected on a hugely successful summer.

“It’s been a very interesting season compared to what I’ve done before.” said Jenkins, who competed in only a fraction of the 20 to 30 events he would normally contest during a summer. “So, it’s been relaxed in that way,” he added.

But what the summer may have lacked in quantity, it more than made up for in quality.

“It’s been probably the most intense season I’ve ever had training wise and with the level of competitions I have done. Overall, it’s been incredible,” said Jenkins.

Representing Great Britain at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris being the undoubted pinnacle.

The world record was broken six times during the shot put competition – once briefly by Jenkins when he launched an effort of 17.14m in the fifth round.

Jose Gregorio, of Columbia, eventually took gold with another new world record breaking throw of 18.26m, seeing Jenkins take the silver and a new European record.

Rhys Llewellyn on his way to a personal best in the steeplechase

Morgan Batten (Wales) claimed bronze in the male javelin with a best distance of 54.06m.

In the women’s 4x100m Wales took silver behind England, while in the men’s 4x100m relay Scotland took gold, Wales silver, and the Welsh Schools team completed the podium positions with bronze.

Wales finished the day on 158 points, with Welsh Schools on 66 points. England U20 were the overall winners with 277 points.

Full results can be found on the Welsh Athletics website.