Thomas Books His European Championships Ticket

It was a busy and successful opening day of the British Athletics Championships in Birmingham for Welsh athletes. Owen Morgan was there for Dai Sport.

Cardiff steeplechaser Ieuan Thomas booked a place at his third major athletics championship in the space of a year by finishing second at the Muller British Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Thomas, who competed at the World Athletics Championships in London last summer and the Commonwealth Games in April, is now on his way to the European Athletics Championships in August.

His silver medal behind Zak Seddon at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday, added to having already clocked the European qualifying standard, means the Cardiff AAC man will be on the plane to Berlin.

A delighted Thomas said: “It’s a great feeling. To finish in the top two gets me to the European Championships.

“Zak was incredibly strong and is in great shape but a silver is the highest placing I’ve had in the British Championships.”

Jonny Hopkins led for much of the race but eventually finished in fourth place. The Swansea Harrier will now have to wait to find out whether he’s done enough to gain selection for the European Championships, having also achieved the qualifying standard this season.

Another Welshman in medal winning form on Saturday was shot putter Gareth Winter, who had all but quit the sport eight months ago to spend more time with his new-born child.

The Gloucester AC man, picked up a bronze behind Scott Lincoln and Youcef Zatat, having reversed his decision to retire.

Winter, who won silver at last year’s championships, said: “I’m blown away. Officially I quit eight months ago to become a dad and to spend some time with the little one.

“I couldn’t fund athletics anymore. I was working full time and working a second job to finance athletics with only getting three hours of sleep at night. There is only so much you can take of that, so I stopped.

“But now I’m back to enjoying athletics like when I started. This result shows that if your head is in a good place you can throw better.”

Winter celebrates his bronze medal after all but retiring from athletics.

As well as the medal successes, there were a number of excellent Welsh performances throughout the day.

Cardiff sprinter Sam Gordon fought his way through to the final of a high quality 100m competition.

The Welsh indoor sprint champion was hugely impressive in his first heat, winning comfortably in a time of 10.39s, before booking himself a place in the final by finishing third and earning a fastest losers spot in 10.51s.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated finals of the day, Gordon clocked 10.40s in finishing seventh behind the top three of Reece Prescod, Zharnel Hughes and CJ Ujah.

Gordon lunges to the line in 100m final.

In the equally closely contested and high class women’s 100m event Wrexham’s Amy Odunaiya and Bristol and West athlete Bethan Wakefiled, qualified from their heats but were unable to reach the final which was won by Dina Asher-Smith in a championship record of 10.97.

And there’s the promise of more Welsh success on Sunday, with a number of athletes booking their places in finals.

Former World 400m hurdles Champion Dai Greene looked impressive in winning his heat in a time of 51.41.

The Swansea Harrier, who is returning to form following an injury plagued spell, has his eyes set on an European Championships place having already gained the qualifying time.

He said: “I haven’t raced too many times this year, so to just get through the rounds and into the final is great for me. It’s pretty windy out there, but I felt quite within myself and I am just eager to get back out there tomorrow and compete against the rest of the guys.

“I have been a bit rusty in terms of race experience over the last few years, but today was a step in the right direction and hopefully I can go about my business tomorrow and get the qualification I need to get.”

Greene looked impressive qualifying for the 400m hurdles final.

Cardiff AAC’s Owen Smith gained a place in the 400m final by grabbing a fastest losers spot thanks to a time of 47:03 in finishing second to Martin Rooney. Swansea Harrier Joe Brier, just missed out on a final place as he finished third.

In the women’s 1500m, Beth Kidger posted a personal best and Ffion Price a season’s best to qualify for Sunday’s final.

Brighton and Pheonix athlete Kidger clocked 4:17.76 to finish seventh in her heat and Cardiff AAC’s Price finished fifth in 4:17.03.