CALDICOT athlete Melissa Arthur warmed up for the Welsh Senior Championships with a lifetime best performance on Sunday – a day before her 18th birthday.

Melissa, currently the Welsh Schools long jump champion and a member of Newport Harriers AC, jumped five metres 61 centimetres in an Open meeting held at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cardiff, increasing her personal best by 14 centimetres.

Her coach, Nigel Lewis, who is currently employed as a Coach Tutor for UK Athletics, was delighted by her performance although he said the improvement was by no means a surprise.

"Melissa hadn't really been coached in long jump until she joined my group," he said.

"She's a feisty competitor, very hard-working and dedicated.

"When I saw her jumping, I realised she had achieved most of her successes on pure, natural talent and she has good speed on the runway.

"Her performance today firmly establishes her as Wales' number one in her age-group."

Melissa, who has ambitions to make the Welsh squad for next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, was back at the NIAC on her birthday, training as usual with her sights set on the Welsh Seniors on January 26 and the Welsh Under 20s championships on February 17.

"I've put my celebrations on hold because there are two very important events coming up and I want to be ready for them," Melissa said.