OLIVER Jones battled to a gold medal at the Welsh Mountain Running Championships in North Wales last weekend.

The Tregynon teenager and Maldwyn Harriers Athletics star completed the 5km course over the hills of Betws-y-Coed in 21.29 to claim under 16s gold, 19 seconds clear of Deeside’s Matt Anthony with Menai Bridge’s Cameron Shaw third.

Jones, a student at Newtown High School, said: “The race was hard and the pace was fast.

“I knew I had to stick to my pacing and the tactics paid off in the end and I am delighted with a gold medal.”

Jones will return to Gwynedd in September when he dons a Welsh vest for the British and Irish Mountain Running Championships.

“I am looking forward to representing Wales again,” said Jones.

Meanwhile Trefeglwys’ Lauren Williams ended fifth in 59.26 in the 400m women’s race at the English Senior Championships in Manchester last weekend.