By Owen Morgan

Ben Thomas slashed almost four-and-a-half seconds off his personal best to finish ninth in an outstanding 2000m steeplechase final at the European Under 18 Athletics Championship in Hungary.

The top 11 finishers in the final all set personal bests with two national records and a championship record being set in the process.

Thomas’ time of 5:53.47 shattered his previous best mark of 5:57.81 set when he won the British Milers Club PB classic in Milton Keynes last month.

The Carmarthen Harrier started the final in confident style and was well in touch with the leaders during the early stages, settling down in sixth or seventh position.

But the field started to string out during the second half of the race as impressive French athlete Baptist Guyon upped the pace and started pulling away from rest.

By the time they heard the bell Guyon had opened up a 25 metre lead at the front and Thomas had dropped down to around 12th.

But the Ysgol Y Strade pupil, who was determined to set a new PB in the final, put in an excellent final lap rounded off with a strong finish down the home straight to grab ninth place

Guyon crossed the line first to set a new championship record of 5:43.92. Pol Oriach, of Spain was second with Portugal’s Etson Barros third in a new national under-18 record time.

After the race Thomas said: “I wanted to do my best in the final so to get a PB, you can’t ask for much more.

“I was quite tired after the heats so to be able to run quicker tonight is really encouraging. I was maybe hoping for a bit quicker but I’m pleased overall.

“I want to earn more British vests in the future. This has really inspired me to work harder and experience these moments again in the future.”