Thank-you Welshpool!

Welshpool’s young athletics sensation Adele Nicoll completed her explosive 2013 outdoor season in the most dramatic style at the weekend, and has said there is much more to come!

The 17-year-old thrower smashed the 14m barrier for the first time in the shot put to send the Sainsburys UK School Games into a spin. Not only was it a new personal best for Adele, the 14.33m throw broke the Welsh Under-17 record.

“I definitely knew there was a 14m put in there but not a 14.33m put so I surprised myself a little bit by just how well I threw,” said the Birchfield Harrier. “But I have been chasing that record all season and it has come in my last event of the season so I am really happy.”

The youngster has shown great maturity this season with a number of records and medals, as well as an 11^th place finish at the World Youth Championships in Ukraine.

But she has kept her feet firmly on the ground and has been quick this week to pay tribute to the town, and her parents.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to the town as a whole for their amazing support this season and I hope they see that it does help a lot and it is very much appreciated,” she said. “I want to pay tribute to my parents too. Without the time, effort and money they have put into my athletics, I wouldn't have been able to do anywhere near the amount that I have done!”

Adele finished the season throwing about a meter and a half further than the second placed athlete in the UK U17 rankings and is now looking forward to a short break.

“I will be hitting winter training hard in about two weeks with the ultimate goal of reaching the Commonwealth Games ‘b’ qualifying standard of two throws over the 15m mark before the deadline which is some time next year. To compete against the likes of Valarie Adams, who is one of the most decorated athletes in the sport, at the age of 17 is to me the equivalent of running a race against Usain Bolt!

“I have high aspirations for next year and I am determined to reach them!”