Williams sets new British shot put record

STRATFORD’S Paula Williams has set a new British indoor record in the shot putt for her age group during a meeting for masters and veteran athletes in Sheffield.

Williams, one of six Stratford Athletics Club athletes taking part in the event at the English Institute of Sport Indoor Arena, threw 13.58 metres, more than four metres further than her nearest challenger in the W50 event. To cap an excellent afternoon, she also ran her 60m in 8.57.

Those achievements came in some of the day’s open events but there were also championship medals at stake and there was further success for the Stratford athletes.

Phil Brennan picked up a silver medal in his M80 3,000m race, recording a time of 17.13.06 and there was a bronze medal for Emma Bexson in her W45 3,000m race, her time of 12.06.04 being the quickest she has recorded since 2021.

There were also a number of podium finishes in other open events with Bexson finishing second in her 800m with a time of 2.:56.63.

Dave Wilson had a successful day in his 60m and 200m. Despite feeling a hamstring twinge on the start line of the 60m he managed third place with a time 8.33. He was undecided about going ahead with his 200m race because of the twinge but, with heart ruling head, he ran and finished third with a time of 27.38.