PAULA Williams broke the British shot put indoor record as the Stratford athlete came away with three medals at the British Masters Athletic Federation Track and Field Indoor Championships in Sheffield.
Williams threw a record-breaking 13.05 metres in the shot put to win gold which was some 42 centimetres further than the previous record holder and more than three metres clear of her nearest challenger on the day.
And Williams also won gold in the 60m hurdles in a time of 9.71 seconds which puts her third on the all-time list – just point nine of a second off top spot.
That came after she won silver in the 60m in 8.52 secs despite competing with a severely swollen ankle.
And Stratford AC’s David Jones was also in action in Sheffield as he finished fourth in both the 800m and 1500m.
Elsewhere, Stratford’s Andrew Pozzi raced for the first time this year at the Utilitia Arena in Birmingham in the UK Athletics Senior Indoor Championships.
Pozzi’s winter training was disrupted by injury but he was still able to finish second in his 60m hurdles heat in 7.80 secs to qualify for the final behind long-term domestic rival David King.
And the pair finished in the same order in the final as Pozzi claimed silver in 7.81 secs.
Stratford’s Emily Madden Forman also competed in Birmingham as she wore the unfamiliar Trafford AC vest in the high jump as she studies at Manchester Metropolitan University.
She recently set a new personal best (PB) and sits fourth in the UK rankings and started cautiously as she cleared 1.77m before falling at 1.81 to finish fourth.
Madden Forman said: “It was a good competition and I’m pleased with fourth but it was bittersweet.
“I’m annoyed that I didn’t get that 1.81, although I think I got too nervous at that point. I’ve got more in me and now I’m looking forward to the British University Champs.”
And Lewis Byng was also competing in Birmingham only to be scuppered by a hamstring injury in the warm up.
Byng had to throw from a low bending position and carried on bravely to throw 17.31m to finish just eight centimetres short of a bronze medal.
Byng said: “I’m really disappointed but these things happen and I just need to concentrate on my training to make sure I’m in good shape to try and get the qualifying standard for the Euros.”
Shortly after the event, Byng was selected as the UK’s sole under-23 shot putter at next month’s European Throwing Cup in Portugal.
