HILPERTON’S John Howorth has been confirmed as the 2020 South West Indoor 1500m champion after an impressive run at the recent Cardiff Open Indoor meeting, writes Kevin Fahey.

The former St Augustine’s Catholic College student made the short trip from his digs – he is now a studying at Cardiff University – to finish seventh overall in the senior 1500m but first west athlete in a time of 3mins 53.45secs.

That is Howorth’s third fastest time ever and only 0.03secs outside the indoor best he set in the British Milers’ Club Grand Prix at Sheffield on the opening weekend of the new year.

Younger brother Rory also made the podium at the meeting with a South West bronze in the long jump as he cleared 6.84m.

There was also a gold for Chippenham’s Femi Akinbobola as he scorched to victory in the 200m in a time of 23.15secs. Akinbobola then added a bronze in the 400m (51.61secs).

Another Chippenham athlete in good form was Ellery Cole as he claimed the under 20 men’s 800m South West title with a time of 2mins 02.36secs.

The pick of the sprinters was once again Ben Game, who recorded 7.21secs to take the South West silver medal. Also competing in the 60m, Luka Williams ran 7.28secs, Jake Cover 7.78secs and Jaz Rees clocked 8.94secs.

South West Indoor Championships medallists from Cardiff: 60m: Ben Game silver; 200m: Femi Akinbobola gold; 400: Akinbobola bronze; 60m Hurdles: Jake Cover silver; Long jump: Rory Howorth bronze; Shot: Joel-Lee Macey silver (9m82); 800: Ellery Cole gold; 1500: John Howorth gold.

Elsewhere in the region, Chippenham’s Jake Burkey was in action in Birmingham and he leapt to 6.84m to finish third in the long jump. Burkey also clocked a time of 7.62secs in the 60m.

Meanwhile, Bradford on Avon runner Alex Carter won the Southwick Park Run on Saturday. Just 24 hours after he had celebrated his 24th birthday, Carter led from start to finish at Southwick recording a time of 16mins 01secs as part of his training towards the Bath half marathon in March.