A LOCAL teenage sprinter has been making his mark on the Welsh athletics scene, recently picking up a double medal haul at the National Indoor Championships.

Thomas Bradbury, still just 16, won gold in the 200m and silver in the 60m at the Welsh Indoors at UWIC in Cardiff last month, cementing himself as the country's top young sprinter. And his supportive family are now tipping him for even greater achievements.

Thomas' mother, Shirley Harris, said: "He's been running since he was 14, and he wins nearly everything!

"He won the Welsh Outdoor Championships last year and has now just got the Indoors too. Up until this year he had only got silver in the Indoors so he's delighted with that."

Thomas' latest honours follow a joint gold medal in the 100m, and a silver and 200m at the Welsh Outdoor Championships in 2005, having won both titles in 2004. And the Croesyceilog School GCSE-student is also the reigning Welsh Schools Champion.

Mrs Harris added: "He's won the Welsh Schools and been representing Wales for the last two years. He's only been to Ireland and Scotland with them so far - nowhere very exotic - but that could still change.

"He's training hard now his age is coming up and he's doing his best for selection for bigger competitions like the Commonwealth Games."

Young Thomas trains at Cwmbran Stadium with Cwmbran Harriers AC twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as occasional Saturday mornings, and is also member of the Spar Sprinters programme - an initiative aimed at overseeing the progress of up and coming elite athletes.

Thomas' grandfather, John Thomas, added: "He's been selected for the Elite class now and we do follow him to quite a few places. The outdoor season starts up again in a fortnight and he's training hard ahead of that." Thomas' next big race sees him travel to Birmingham later this month having been selected for the Norwich Union Championships. He also has his sights on defending his title at the 2006 Outdoor Championships later this year.

Mrs Harris added: "He'll be 22 when the 2012 Olympics come around and it'll