By Owen Morgan

Neath athlete Bethany Moule has received her first Great Britain call up.

The javelin thrower has been named in the GB squad for the prestigious European Throwing Cup in Portugal.

Moule’s selection comes hot on the heels of posting a massive new personal best last weekend.

The Neath Harrier opened her season with a PB of 49.71m at the appropriately named Loughborough Winter Long Throws competition.

The 18-year old extended her old personal best of 46.53m. The new mark is the third longest throw ever by a Welsh under-20 woman.

Although this will be her first GB vest, Moule is no stranger to international competition having previously represented Wales.

In 2017 she competed for Wales at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas where she finished sixth.

Moule will compete in the under-23 competition in Liera which will give her the opportunity to chase the 52m standard required to earn a place on the GB team for the World Junior Championships in Nairobi this July.

Moule is joined in the squad by Worthing’s Ben Hawkes, who is a student at Cardiff Metropolitan University, where he is coached by Welsh Athletics programme manager Adrian Palmer.

Peter Stanley, head of field and combined events at British Athletics, said: “The European Throwing Cup is an important event on the international calendar for our athletes and it is fantastic – and demonstrates the strength we currently have – that we have been able to select the maximum number of 11 athletes this year.

“The Winter Long Throws opportunity at the weekend was once again a great event for many to open their season as shown by the number of personal bests and, along with other performances this year, we are looking forward to seeing our athletes make the most of the opportunity Leiria presents.”

The full Great Britain team heading for Liera for the March 21-22 competition is:

Senior Men:
Taylor Campbell, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow – hammer; Scott Lincoln, City of York – shot put; Craig Murch, Birchfield Harriers – hammer; Nicholas Percy, Shaftesbury Barnet – discus.

Senior Women:
Kirsty Law, Sale Harriers Manchester – discus; Jess Mayho, Birchfield Harriers – hammer; Amelia Strickler, Thames Valley – shot put.

Under-23 Men:
Ben Hawkes, Worthing – hammer

Under-23 Women:
Bethany Moule, Neath Harriers – javelin; Charlotte Payne, Reading – hammer; Serena Vincent, City of Portsmouth – shot put.